Single-electron reduction of C60 with a carbon radical: formation of the Crystal Violet cation–fulleride ion salt†

Abstract

Whereas many carbon radicals are known to add to C₆₀, the reaction of Crystal Violet radical 1^• with C₆₀ resulted in single-electron transfer, leading to a carbocation–carbanion salt 1⁺C₆₀^•–: the product was isolated as microcrystalline powder and was characterized by EPR, VIS-NIR and NMR spectroscopy.