Electrochemistry of (Dihapto-Buckminster-Fullerene) Pentacarbonyl Tungsten(0)

Cyclic voltammetry experiments on [60]fullerene, (C₆₀), and (dihapto-[60]fullerene) pentacarbonyl tungsten(0), (η²-C₆₀)W(CO)₅, constitute an educational experiment for the inorganic chemistry laboratory with a primary objective to teach the chemical interpretation of a voltammogram, in particular the relation between the frontier LUMOs of [60]fullerene and the number of reduction–oxidation waves of [60]fullerene and (dihapto-[60]fullerene)W(CO)₅. The proposed experiments may be combined with the kinetics experiments on the ligand–exchange reactions on (η²-C₆₀)W(CO)₅, and with the sunlight-induced photosynthesis and characterization of (η²-C₆₀)W(CO)₅, published in this Journal, to complete a series of three experiments for the inorganic chemistry laboratory that promotes understanding and integration of the following inorganic chemistry concepts: activation parameters, bonding, electronic structure, kinetics, mechanisms, and thermodynamic bond enthalpy.