Stable van der Waals-bonded C-60/benzene solvates were prepared using
a novel crystallization technique. Solid-state NMR measurements on hig
hly crystalline solvate under liquid benzene show that there is very l
ittle interaction between benzene and the C-60 molecules and that the
rotation of C-60 at room temperature is not hindered. The magnetizatio
n transfer between benzene protons and local C-60 molecules is highly
inefficient. Three benzene species have been found in the solvate: two
, nearly freely mobile, in wide and narrow porous structures, and the
third constrained by C-60 molecules in lattice defects. Premelting of
deuterated benzene within the C-60 solvate has been observed at T-m -
10.5 K.