REACTION OF LIVING POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) CHAINS WITH C-60

To determine the reactivity of fullerene toward oxanions, we have stud ied the grafting of ''living'' poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-K+) and ethyl ene oxide ''capped'' polystyrene chains (PSCH2CH2O-K+) onto C-60 in TH F. We demonstrate that, in this polar solvent, electron transfer from the oxanion to the highly electron accepting fullerene takes place. Th is transfer is limited to two electron per fullerene, and is accompani ed by addition of polymer chains onto the C-60 probably through grafti ng of the generated radicals. SEC characterization of (PEO)(X)C-60 ind icates the presence of products with molar masses corresponding to X g reater than or equal to 6. That may result from aggregation occurring in this case as, using the same active species, practically only mono- and di-adducts are obtained if the chain is PS.