Dimethyl azo(bisisobutyrate) and C(60) produce 1,4- and 1, 16-Di(2-carbomethoxy-2-propyl)-1,x-dihydro

Thermal decomposition of dimethyl azo(bisisobutyrate) in a solution containing C(60) produced 1,4- and 1, 16-di(2-carbomethoxy-2-propyl)-1,x-dihydro[60]fullerenes in yields of 21% and 27%, respectively, based on reacted C(60). The structure of this first 1,16-dialkyl-1,16-dihydro[60]fullerene was assigned from (13)C 2D INADEQUATE NMR spectra. The 1,16-isomer has first and second electrochemical reduction potentials shifted positively by 0. 18 V relative to those of the 1,4-isomer. From the close similarity of all spectral, chromatographic, and electrochemical data, the previously unassigned isomer of 1,x-di(2-cyano-2-propyl)-1, x-dihydro[60]fullerene, which was obtained from azo(bisisobutyronitrile) and C(60), is also a 1,16-isomer.