A Long‐Lived Azafullerenyl Radical Stabilized by Supramolecular Shielding with a [10]Cycloparaphenylene. (21st October 2019) - Stergiou, Anastasios
Abstract: A major handicap towards the exploitation of radicals is their inherent instability. In the paramagnetic azafullerenyl radical C59 N ., the unpaired electron is strongly localized next to the nitrogen atom, which induces dimerization to diamagnetic bis(azafullerene), (C59 N)2 . Conventional stabilization by introducing steric hindrance around the radical is inapplicable here because of the concave fullerene geometry. Instead, we developed an innovative radical shielding approach based on supramolecular complexation, exploiting the protection offered by a [10]cycloparaphenylene ([10]CPP) nanobelt encircling the C59 N . radical. Photoinduced radical generation is increased by a factor of 300. The EPR signal showing characteristic 14 N hyperfine splitting of C59 N . ⊂ [10]CPP was traced even after several weeks, which corresponds to a lifetime increase of >10 8 . The proposed approach can be generalized by tuning the diameter of the employed nanobelts, opening new avenues for the design and exploitation of radical fullerenes. Abstract : Durch supramolekulare Komplexierung mit einem [10]Cycloparaphenylen([10]CPP)‐Nanogürtel kann das C59 N . ‐Radikal effektiv stabilisiert werden. Das charakteristische Triplett‐EPR‐Signal von C59 N . ⊂[10]CPP wurde auch mehrere Wochen nach seiner Generierung noch detektiert.