KINETICS AND THERMODYNAMICS OF THE ELECTROREDUCTION OF BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE IN BENZONITRILE

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the reduction of buckminsterfullerene (C60) have been studied in benzonitrile solutions containing tetraalkylammonium salts as electrolytes. On the basis of the observed shifts in half-wave potential with electrolyte concentration, it is shown that the resulting anions from the first and second reduction stePS, namely C60- and C60(2-) are associated with two or more tetraalkylammonium cations, the strength of the resulting association increasing with increasing cation size. The rate constants for both reactions and the activation enthalpy for the first step are also reported. Electron transfer is fast, as one would expect for a large spherical reactant. The kinetic data obtained are compared with data for other fast electron-transfer reactions.