Exploring the electronic and magnetic properties of C60 fullerene dimers with ladderane-like hexagonal bridges

► Binding energies for C108(BN)3n+6 are lower than C120+6n compounds. ► Binding energies decrease linearly as the size of hexagonal bridges increase. ► Magnetic field shows different behaviors inside BN and carbon hexagonal bridges. ► Bridge has antiaromatic character in C120+6n and non-aromatic in C108(BN)3n+6. ► Both kinds of the fullerene dimers yield negative NICS values at the cage centers.