Electronic Communication between two [10]cycloparaphenylenes and Bis(azafullerene) (C59N)(2) Induced by Cooperative Complexation

The complex of [10]cycloparaphenylene ([10]CPP) with bis(azafullerene) (C59N)(2) is investigated experimentally and computationally. Two [10]CPP rings are bound to the dimeric azafullerene giving [10]CPP superset of (C59N)(2) subset of [10] CPP. Photophysical and redox properties support an electronic interaction between the components especially when the second [10]CPP is bound. Unlike [10] CPP $ C60, in which there is negligible electronic communication between the two species, upon photoexcitation a partial charge transfer phenomenon is revealed between [10]CPP and (C59N) 2 reminiscent of CPP-encapsulated metallofullerenes. Such an alternative electronrich fullerene species demonstrates C60-like ground-state properties and metallofullerene-like excited-state properties opening new avenues for construction of functional supramolecular architectures with organic materials.