¹³C and ¹³⁹La NMR Studies of La₂@C₈₀: First Evidence for Circular Motion of Metal Atoms in Endohedral Dimetallofullerenes

Abstract

Clear confirmation of recent theoretical studies concerning the structure of the endohedral complexes formed by La and C80 is provided by the NMR spectroscopic investigations presented here Complex La2@C80 is present, and its structure is based on the unstable “empty” Ih isomer of C80. The two La atoms circulate inside this round cage even at room temperature (shown schematically on the right).