The radical scavenging reactions of C70 were
investigated
using time-resolved (TR-) and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance
(EPR) methods. In the diphenylphosphine oxide (DPPO) radical and C70 system, structural isomers of the adduct radicals of C70 appeared in the TR-EPR spectrum with clear hyperfine structures
due to the phosphorus atom. Four isomers were identified through the
analysis of the hyperfine coupling constants. The assignment of the
adduct radicals was confirmed by the semiempirical calculation of
the relative addition reaction rate constants that produce each isomer.
The radical scavenging rate constants, k
sca, of C70 in toluene were determined for DPPO, hydroxylcyclohexyl,
and 2-hydroxypropyl radicals through electron spin echo observations
using the pulsed-EPR method. The k
sca values
were nearly 109 mol–1 dm3 s–1 and were almost equal to the diffusion-controlled
rate constant in toluene. This proves that C70 acts as
an excellent radical scavenger. In addition, the radical addition
rate constants, k
add, of C70 for varying carbon atoms in C70 were obtained by considering
the peak intensity ratio of the adduct radicals in the TR-EPR spectrum.
In this study, we demonstrated that the large number of carbon atoms
in pentagons (five-membered rings) is responsible for the high reactivity
of fullerenes.