Exohedral mono- and bimetallic hydride complexes of rhodium and iridium with C-60 and C-70: syntheses and electrochemical properties

Syntheses of mono- and bimetallic hydride complexes of rhodium and iridium with fullerenes C-60 and C-70 are described and the results of their cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies are presented. The metal-containing [HM(CO)(PPh3) (2)] moiety (M = Rh and Ir) coordinates with high stereo- and regioselectiv ity to the 1,2 bond of these fullerenes to form the only isomer in both cas es. The attachment of the second [HM(CO)(PPh3)(2)] moiety results in a comp lex mixture of positional and geometric isomers. Due to a high rate of form ation, metallofullerene complexes may be generated in situ in the electroch emical cell. The electrochemical behavior (their redox potentials and stabi lity of the oxidized and reduced forms) of the studied C-60 and C-70 organo metallic derivatives with the same metal-containing fragment is identical. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.