Magnetic Coupling and Optical Properties of the S6‐Dodecakis(trifluoromethyl)fullerene Radical Anions in the Layered Salt (PPN+)[C60(CF3)12.−]

Poly(trifluoromethyl)fullerene S₆‐C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂ was reduced by sodium fluorenone ketyl in the presence of (PPN)Cl (PPN=bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium) to afford the salt (PPN)C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂] ( 1 ), which contains C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂^.? radical anions. In the crystal structure of 1 , C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂^.? layers alternate with the PPN⁺ cations. There are short F ??? F contacts between C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂^.? radical anions within the layers but no C ??? C contacts. DFT calculations revealed that the negative charge on C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂^.? is distributed mainly between sp² carbon and fluorine atoms, whereas spin density is localized mainly on the fullerene‐cage sp² carbon atoms. IR and UV/Vis/NIR spectra in the solid state and solution showed characteristic changes relative to those of neutral S₆‐C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂ due to the formation of radical anions. The solid‐state electronic spectrum of 1 exhibits a single broad band at 738 nm attributed to C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂^.?. Crystals of 1 show a narrow EPR signal with g=2.0025 (ΔH=0.45 mT) at 300 K. The temperature dependence of the integral intensity follows the Curie–Weiss law with a negative Weiss temperature of ?11.8 K (30–300 K) indicating antiferromagnetic interaction of spins. This dependence was approximated by the Heisenberg model for one‐dimensional chains of antiferromagnetically interacting spins with exchange interaction J/k_B=?9.1 K. It was assumed that magnetic interaction between the C₆₀(CF₃)₁₂^.? spins in the layers is mediated by short F ??? F contacts.