A magnetoreception system constructed by a dysprosium metallofullerene and nitroxide radical

Abstract

Endohedral lanthanide metallofullerene molecules exhibit various paramagnetic properties. In this study, we present a magnetoreception probe that can detect the magnetic properties of an endohedral metallofullerene via spin-paramagnet interaction between a nitroxide radical and Dy₃N@C₈₀. A cycloaddition reaction on the outer cage of Dy₃N@C₈₀ was employed to obtain two regioisomers linked with the nitroxide radical; the resultant adduct exhibits site-dependent signal intensity in the ESR spectra. This Dy₃N@C₈₀-nitroxide radical adduct has potential applications as a molecular compass with position-sensitive magnetoreception ability.