Laser flash photolysis study of methanol addition to the C60 radical cation

Stable alcohol adducts of buckminsterfullerene (C60) can be created via addition to C60 radical cations. The radical cations were generated by photosensitized electron transfer from C60 in a solution of N-methylacridinium hexafluorophosphate and biphenyl. Growth and decay of the C60 radical cation population was monitored by transient absorption spectroscopy at 980 nm. The lifetime of the transient decreases in the presence of methanol, supporting trapping of the radical cation.