The First Fullerene−Metal Sandwich Complex: An Unusually Strong Electronic Communication between Two C₆₀ Cages

Reaction of Rh6(CO)9(dppm)2(μ3-η2,η2,η2-C60) (1) with C60 in refluxing chlorobenzene followed by treatment with CNR (R = CH2C6H5) at room temperature affords the first fullerene−metal sandwich complex Rh6(CO)5(dppm)2(CNR)(μ3-η2,η2,η2-C60)2 (2). Compound 2 has been characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. Electrochemical study of 2 reveals six well-separated reversible redox couples localized at C60 cages due to a strong electronic communication between the two C60 centers via the Rh6 cluster spacer.