Electronic Interactions in a New Fullerene Dimer: C122H4, with Two Methylene Bridges

The isolation of a new fullerene dimer, C122H4, and its structural characterization by 13C NMR and 1H NMR spectroscopy and by UV/vis and IR spectroscopy are reported. The structure of this dimer consists of two fullerene cages, which are directly connected through two C-C bonds and two methylene bridges. Consequently, adjacent hexagonal faces of the two fullerene cages are arranged in a face to face manner. Molecular orbital calculations indicate that the proximity of the fullerene cages results in significant through space overlap in both the HOMO and LUMO. As a consequence of this overlap, the electrochemistry of the dimer shows electronic communication with stepwise reduction of each cage.