Poly(trifluoromethyl)fullerene radical anions. An ESR/Vis-NIR Spectroelectrochemical Study of C60F2,4 and C60(CF3)2,10.

Cyclic voltammograms are reported for C(60)(CF(3))(n) derivatives for the first time. The compounds studied were 1,9-C(60)(CF(3))(2) and 3 isomers of C(60)(CF(3))(10), including the structurally characterized derivative 1,3,7,10,14,17,23,28,31,40-C(60)(CF(3))(10) (C(60)(CF(3))(10)-3). The compound 1,9-C(60)(CF(3))(2) exhibited 3 reversible reductions; C(60)(CF(3))(10)-3 exhibited 2 reversible reductions; the other 2 isomers of C(60)(CF(3))(10) each exhibited 1 reversible reduction. ESR and near-IR spectroelectrochemical experiments were performed to characterize some of the C(60)(CF(3))(n)(-) and C(60)(CF(3))(n)(2-) species generated by cyclic voltammetry. The ESR spectrum of the C(60)(CF(3))(10)-3(-) radical anion consisted of an envelope of 25 lines centered at g = 2.0032 (the apparent a value is ca. 0.5 G), evidence of coupling between the unpaired electron and a significant number of the CF(3) fluorine atoms. The most significant finding is that this radical anion has a half-life in solution at 25 degrees C of about 7 min.