Can H2 inside C60 communicate with the outside world?

The quenching rate constants of singlet oxygen by C60, H2@C60, D2@C6o, H2, and D2 in solution were measured. The presence of a hydrogen (H2@C60) or deuterium (D2@C60) molecule inside the fullerene did not produce any observable effect based on triplet lifetime or EPR measurements. However, a remarkable effect was found for the 1O2 quenching by C60, H2@C60, D2@C6o, H2, and D2. Singlet oxygen was generated by photosensitization or by thermal decomposition of naphthalene endoperoxide derivatives. Comparison of the rate constants for quenching of 1O2 by H2@C60 and D2@C60 demonstrates a significant vibrational interaction between oxygen and H2 inside the fullerene. The quenching rate constant for H2 is 1 order of magnitude higher than that of D2, in agreement with the results observed for the quenching of 1O2 with H2@C60 or D2@C60.