Two-dimensional hopping motion of encapsulated La atoms in silylated La-2@C-80

The La-139 NMR study of the exohedrally functionalized derivatives of La-2@C-80 metallofullerene, La-2@C-80(Ar2Si)(2)CH2 (3a: Ar = Mes, Mes = mesityl, 3b: Ar = Dep, Dep = 2,6-diethylphenyl), reveal that the two La atoms hop between two sites along the equator of the C-80 cage.