Abstract: 11 methanofullerenes have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry(CV) systematically and comparatively. The influence of the nature of groups introduced and chain length of substituents on the electron-accepting ability of methanofullerenes was observed. It was found that introducing electron-donating groups, such as alkyls, weaken the electron- accepting ability of C60 and make its first reduction wave shifted to more negative position. Introducing electron-withdrawing groups, such as carboxylic ester groups, compensate part of negative shift of the reduction wave due to the effect of the saturation of a fullerene double bond. It was also found that increasing the chain length of substituents would not obviously change the electron-accepting ability of C60. Furthermore, the split of reduction peaks of some methanofullerenes induced by electrochemical isomerization was explained.

Key words: Fullerene, Methanofullerene, Cyclic voltammetry(CV), Electrochemical properties, Isomerization