Dissociative electron attachment of singly bonded [60]fullerene dimer studied by laser flash photolysis

Electrochemical and photochemical processes of a singly bonded C ₆₀ dimer (RC₆₀-C₆₀R), where R is diethoxyphosphorylmethyl (-CH₂P(=O)(OEt)₂), have been investigated using laser flash photolysis methods. Chemical reduction of RC ₆₀-C₆₀R generated the anion of dissociated fullerene (RC₆₀^- ) as a final reduction product, which is in agreement with irreversible cyclic voltammogram. Photoinduced one-electron reduction of RC₆₀-C₆₀R in the presence of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine via the triplet excited state of RC₆₀-C₆₀R generated initially the delocalized radical anion of RC₆₀-C₆₀R [(RC₆₀-C ₆₀R)^.-], which transformed into the localized radical anion [(RC₆₀)^.--C₆₀R] which showed a similar transient absorption spectrum to that of the radical anion of R ₂C₆₀. Photoexcitation of RC₆₀-C₆₀R in the absence of electron donor yields free radical (RC_60.) via the excited state of RC₆₀-C₆₀R. Interactions between two RC₆₀ moieties in the ground and excited states of RC ₆₀-C₆₀R have also been discussed.