Radiolytic Reduction of a Water-Soluble Fullerene Cluster

In the present Letter we extend our previous studies on negatively charged fullerene clusters {C 60 C(COO - ) 2 } n, 2, and {C 60 (C 9 H 11 O 2 )(COO - )} n, 3, to a functionalized derivative which carries a positive charge {C 60 (C 4 H 10 N + )} n, 1b . It will be demonstrated that covalent introduction of a quartery ammonium group at the fullerene moiety, via N -methylation of 1a ( N -methylfulleropyrrolidine C 60 (C 3 H 7 N), not only enhances the water-solubility but the positive charge also enhances the rate of reduction of the fullerene core in a cluster to yield {(C 60 •- )(C 4 H 10 N + )} n .