Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of the Labile Isomer of Y@C82 Cocrystallized with Ni(OEP): Unprecedented Dimerization of Pristine Metallofullerenes

Although the major isomers of M@C-82 (namely M@C-2v(9)-C-82, where M is a trivalent rare-earth metal) have been intensively investigated, the lability of the minor isomers has meant that they have been little studied. Herein, the first isolation and crystallographic characterization of the minor Y@C-82 isomer, unambiguously assigned as Y@Cs(6)-C-82 by cocrystallization with Ni(octaethylporphyrin), is reported. Unexpectedly, a regioselective dimerization is observed in the crystalline state of Y@Cs(6)-C-82. In sharp contrast, no dimerization occurs for the major isomer Y@C-2v(9)-C-82 under the same conditions, indicating a cage-symmetry-induced dimerization process. Further experimental and theoretical results disclose that the regioselective dimer formation is a consequence of the localization of high spin density on a special cage-carbon atom of Y@Cs(6)-C-82 which is caused by the steady displacement of the Yatom inside the Cs(6)-C-82 cage.