Homoleptic amorphous platinum-fullerene compounds were synthesized from low
-valent platinum precursors. Both variation of precursor and temperature of
synthesis lead to different phases. Simultaneous observation of symmetric
and antisymmetric fullerene vibrational modes in the platinum-fullerene IR
and resonant Raman spectra support evidence for dimer and oligomer formatio
ns. Doublet splitting of fullerene (I-h point group symmetry) F-1u modes an
d observation of previously IR silent modes also indicate substantial local
disorder at the fullerene moiety. X-band CW-EPR measurements. using the mi
crowave power saturation technique, allows observation of at least two diff
erent relaxation behaviours, that are attributed to activation of efficient
relaxation pathways in the compounds synthesized at 25 degrees C. These pr
ocesses are absent in fullerene[60] and much less effective in the platinum
compound obtained at -45 degrees C. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig
hts reserved.