Harnessing electron transfer from the perchlorotriphenylmethide anion to Y@C82(C(2v)) to engineer an endometallofullerene-based salt.

We show that electron transfer from the perchlorotriphenylmethide anion (PTM(-)) to Y@C82(C2v) is an instantaneous process, suggesting potential applications for using PTM(-) to perform redox titrations of numerous endohedral metallofullerenes. The first representative of a Y@C82-based salt containing the complex cation was prepared by treating Y@C82(C2v) with the [K(+)([18]crown-6)]PTM(-) salt. The synthesis developed involves the use of the [K(+)([18]crown-6)]PTM(-) salt as a provider of both a complex cation and an electron-donating anion that is able to reduce Y@C82 C2v). For the first time, the molar absorption coefficients for neutral and anionic forms of the pure isomer of Y@C82(C2v) were determined in organic solvents with significantly different polarities.
(Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)