Persistent photoinduced electron transfer from functionalized dendrimers to Buckminsterfullerene

ESR spectra proved that functionalized poly(propylene imine) dendrimers were efficient electron donors in photoinduced electron transfer reactions to Buckminster fullerene in soln. The ESR spectra of toluene solns. contg. C60 and the dendrimer, or C60 and tripropylamine (resembling the interior of the dendrimer), or C60 and N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-phenylalanine (resembling the shell of the dendrimer) were compared. The functionalized dendrimers are more effective electron donors (by 2 orders of magnitude) than the model compds. measured by the amt. of the formed fullerene radical anion. In the 1st part of the article the photophys. properties of the fullerene, the dendrimer, and of mixts. between them were reviewed