[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.