title: Strong electronic coupling and electron transfer in a Ce2@Ih-C80-H2P electron donor acceptor conjugate.
abstract: A newly designed electron donor-acceptor conjugate, namely Ce2@Ih-C80-H2P consisting of an endohedral dimetallofullerene Ce2@Ih-C80 and a free-base prophyrin (H2P), has been synthesized and systematically investigated. Basic characterization by means of NMR spectroscopy, steady-state absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemistry points to a folded configuration with sizeable interactions between Ce2@Ih-C80 and H2P. Complementary DFT optimization also results in the same conclusions. Time-resolved absorption spectroscopic investigations corroborate the formation of the (Ce2)˙(-)@Ih-C80-(H2P)˙(+) radical ion pair state in non-polar as well as polar media. Overall, the modus operandi is an ultrafast through-space electron transfer enabled by the folded configuration in the ground and excited state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy & Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen 91058, Germany. dirk.guldi@fau.de.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.forename: Lai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Slanina
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Guldi