[C60(CN)5]―: A Remarkably Stable [60]Fullerene Anion

Reaction of C 60 Cl 6 with organic cyanide yielded an ionic salt comprising the fullerene anion [C 60 (CN) 5 ] ― . This anion showed unprecedented stability in air and in solutions in the presence of water, organic and inorganic acids, and various electrophiles. The remarkable stability of the [C 60 (CN) 5 ] ― anion opens wide opportunities for the design of various air-stable salts incorporating different cations (metallocene, tetrathiafulvalene, and etc.) that might reveal valuable magnetic or electronic properties and find wide application in the field of material science.