[60]Fullerene-metal cluster complexes: Novel bonding modes and electronic communication

[60] Fullerene can bind a variety of metal clusters via eta(2)-C-60, mu-eta(2):eta(2)-C-60, and mu(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C-60 pi-type bonding modes. Multiple C-60 additions to a single cluster core have also been demonstrated. Modification of the coordination sphere of cluster moieties has resulted in novel transformation of the coordination mode of the C-60 ligand between pi and sigma (mu(3)- eta(1):eta(1):eta(2) -C-60 and mu(3)-eta(1):eta(2):eta(1)-C-60) types as well as reversible interconversion between mu(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C-60 and mu-eta(2):eta(2)-C-60. The mu(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C-60 metal cluster complexes show remarkable electrochemical stability and an unusually strong electronic communication between C-60 and metal cluster centers.