Can #C_60# be reduced?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 1, 2016

Formally, the answer is yes.

Explanation:

#C_60# is formed from interconnecting, unsaturated 6-membered, and 5-membered rings. X-ray crystallography gives #1.39xx10^(-10)# and #1.45xx10^(-10)# #m# #C-C# bonds, which are certainly shorter than a regular #C-C# single bond, #1.54xx10^-10# #m#.

Fullerenes can be further reduced by the action of potassium metal to give #C_(60)""^(6-)K_6^+# and #C_(60)""^(12-)K_12^+# .

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