La2@C72 and Sc2@C72:  Computational Characterizations.

The La2@C72 and Sc2@C72 metallofullerenes have been characterized by systematic density functional computations. On the basis of the most stable geometry of 39 C72 hexaanions and the computed energies of the best endofullerene candidates, the experimentally isolated La2@C72 species was assigned the structure coded #10611. The good agreement between the computed and the experimental 13C chemical shifts for La2@C72 further supports the literature assignment (Kato, H.; Taninaka, A.; Sugai, T.; Shinohara, H. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2003, 125, 7782). The geometry, IR vibrational frequencies, and 13C chemical shifts of Sc2@C72 were predicted to assist its future experimental characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]