A series of [6,5] open fulleroids with radical stabilizing groups on the methano bridge were synthesized and their rearrangements to the more stable [6,6] closed fullerenes studied. These [6,5] open fulleroids all rearrange both by a zero-order photochemical process and by a higher energy unimolecular pathway involving disrotatory closure to the [6,5] closed fullerene, which subsequently rearranges to the [6,6] closed fullerene via a biradical-like intermediate.

Studies the limitation of the equilibrium approximations to the kinetics of complex reactions.

The thermal and photochemical rearrangements of a series of aryl substituted [6,5] open fulleroids to [6,6] closed methanofullerenes are accelerated in the presence in of electron acceptors. These [6,5] open fulleroids, facilitated by electron acceptors, rearrange thermally by a zwitteronic-type intermediate, while the photochemical reactions proceed via an excited-state electron-transfer process. The oxidation potentials of these [6,5] open fulleroids and their corresponding [6,6] closed methanofullerenes isomers have been evaluated. The free energy difference between the [6,5] open fulleroids and their corresponding [6,6] closed isomers have been estimated from the difference in their oxidation potentials.

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