Hydrogenation of [Li@C₆₀]PF₆: A comparison with fulleranes derived from C₆₀

Abstract

A light hydrogenation process involving the dissolution of zinc dust in diluted formic acid was developed to study the early hydrogenation stages of [Li@C₆₀]⁺PF₆^- and C₆₀. The hydrogenation of the two substrates was followed through the electronic absorption spectroscopy and it was found that the metallofullerene reacts with hydrogen at least 2.4 times faster than C₆₀, in line with theoretical expectations which suggest that [Li@C₆₀] is a better free radical acceptor than C₆₀. The key absorption bands of the resulting fulleranes at low degree of hydrogen content were determined and discussed in an astrochemical perspective.

Keywords:

• [Li@C₆₀]⁺PF₆^-
• C₆₀
• hydrogenation
• Zn/HCOOH
• astrochemistry

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge support from the ACIISI, Gobierno de Canarias and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under grant with reference PROID2020010051.