The electrochemistry of C60Ph5Cl: A very special fullerene derivative

C60Ph5Cl has electrochemical properties strikingly different from pristine C-60: the cyclovoltammetric curves show that, in the first reduction peak, two electrons are sequentially and irreversibly injected at the same potent ial. Analysis of the corresponding kinetics suggests that the carbon-chlori ne bond is concomitantly severed and that back-oxidation of the resulting f ragments regenerates the pristine fullerene derivative. The different oxida tion states of this derivative of C-60 therefore repel and attract the chlo rine atom, a property that further adds to the well-known special character of fullerene anions.