Can H2 inside C60 communicate with the outside world?

Abstract

The quenching rate constants of singlet oxygen by C60, H2@C60, D2@C6o, H2, and D2 in solution were measured. The presence of a hydrogen (H2@C60) or deuterium (D2@C60) molecule inside the fullerene did not produce any observable effect based on triplet lifetime or EPR measurements. However, a remarkable effect was found for the 1O2 quenching by C60, H2@C60, D2@C6o, H2, and D2. Singlet oxygen was generated by photosensitization or by thermal decomposition of naphthalene endoperoxide derivatives. Comparison of the rate constants for quenching of 1O2 by H2@C60 and D2@C60 demonstrates a significant vibrational interaction between oxygen and H2 inside the fullerene. The quenching rate constant for H2 is 1 order of magnitude higher than that of D2, in agreement with the results observed for the quenching of 1O2 with H2@C60 or D2@C60.

• Authors: Juan López-Gejo, Angel A Martí, Marco Ruzzi, Steffen Jockusch, Koichi Komatsu, Fumiyuki Tanabe, Yasujiro Murata, Nicholas J Turro
• Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society (J Am Chem Soc) Vol. 129 Issue 47 Pg. 14554-5 (Nov 28 2007) ISSN: 1520-5126 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17985904 (Publication Type: Journal Article)