Trifluoromethyl derivatives of insoluble small-HOMO-LUMO-gap hollow higher fullerenes. NMR and DFT structure elucidation of C2-(C74-D3h)(CF3)12, Cs-(C76-Td(2))(CF3)12, C2-(C78-D3h(5))(CF3)12, Cs-(C80-C2v(5))(CF3)12, and C2-(C82-C2(5))(CF3)12

Reaction of a mixture of insoluble higher fullerenes with CF3I at 500 degrees C produced a single abundant isomer of C74(CF3)12, C76(CF3)12, and C80(CF3)12, two abundant isomers of C78(CF3)12 and C82(CF3)12, and an indeterminant number of isomers of C84(CF3)12. Using a combination of 19F NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and the structures and spectra of previously reported fullerene(CF3)n compounds, the most-probable structures of six of the seven isolated compounds were determined to be specific isomers of C2-(C74-D3h)(CF3)12, Cs-(C76-Td(2))(CF3)12), C2-(C78-D3h(5))(CF3)12), Cs-(C80-C2v(5))(CF3)12), C2-(C82-C2(5))(CF3)12), and C2-(C82-C2(3))(CF3)12) containing ribbons and/or loops of edge-sharing para-C6(CF3)2 hexagons. The seventh isolated compound is a C1 isomer of C78(CF3)12 containing two such ribbons. This set of compounds represents only the second reported isolable compound with the hollow C74-D3h cage and the first experimental evidence for the existence of the hollow fullerenes C76-Td(2), C78-D3h(5), C80-C2v(5), and C82-C2(5) in arc-discharge soots.     

Synthesis and X-ray or NMR/DFT structure elucidation of twenty-one new trifluoromethyl derivatives of soluble cage isomers of C76, C78, C84, and C90

Adding 1% of the metallic elements cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium to graphite rod electrodes resulted in different amounts of the hollow higher fullerenes (HHFs) C76-D2(1), C78-C2v(2), and C78-C2v(3) in carbon-arc fullerene-containing soots. The reaction of trifluoroiodomethane with these and other soluble HHFs at 520-550 degrees C produced 21 new C76,78,84,90(CF3)n derivatives (n = 6, 8, 10, 12, 14). The reaction with C76-D2(1) produced an abundant isomer of C2-(C76-D2(1))(CF3)10 plus smaller amounts of an isomer of C1-(C76-D2(1))(CF3)6, two isomers of C1-(C76-D2(1))(CF3)8, four isomers of C1-(C76-D2(1))(CF3)10, and one isomer of C2-(C76-D2(1))(CF3)12. The reaction with a mixture of C78-D3(1), C78-C2v(2), and C78-C2v(3) produced the previously reported isomer C1-(C78-C2v(3))(CF3)12 (characterized by X-ray crystallography in this work) and the following new compounds: C2-(C78-C2v(3))(CF3)8; C2-(C78-D3(1))(CF3)10 and C(s)-(C78-C2v(2))(CF3)10 (both characterized by X-ray crystallography in this work); C2-(C78-C2v(2))(CF3)10; and C1-C78(CF3)14 (cage isomer unknown). The reaction of a mixture of soluble higher fullerenes including C84 and C90 produced the new compounds C1-C84(CF3)10 (cage isomer unknown), C1-(C84-C2(11))(CF3)12 (X-ray structure reported recently), D2-(C84-D2(22))(CF3)12, C2-(C84-D2(22))(CF3)12, C1-C84(CF3)14 (cage isomer unknown), C1-(C90-C1(32))(CF3)12, and another isomer of C1-C90(CF3)12 (cage isomer unknown). All compounds were studied by mass spectrometry, (19)F NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. An analysis of the addition patterns of these compounds and three other HHF(X) n compounds with bulky X groups has led to the discovery of the following addition-pattern principle for HHFs: In general, the most pyramidal cage C(sp(2)) atoms in the parent HHF, which form the most electron-rich and therefore the most reactive cage C-C bonds as far as 1,2-additions are concerned, are not the cage C atoms to which bulky substituents are added. Instead, ribbons of edge-sharing p-C6(X)2 hexagons, with X groups on less pyramidal cage C atoms, are formed, and the otherwise "most reactive" fullerene double bonds remain intact.     

Sensing of chiral fullerenes by a cyclic host with an asymmetrically distorted pi-electronic component

Upon inclusion complexation with a racemic mixture of chiral fullerene C76 ((+/-)-C76), a novel cyclic host (1Rh) composed of a chiral N-methylporphyrin (PNMe) and a methylrhodium porphyrin (PRh) exhibited at 20 degrees C a 1H NMR spectral profile with diastereoisomerically split signals due to the NH group of PNMe. In contrast, because of a faster guest exchange dynamics, metal-free reference 12H, under identical conditions, did not show any signature of such diastereoisomeric splitting. Owing to the excellent resolution (15.6 Hz) of the split NH signals, the complexation with 1Rh allowed for the accurate determination of the optical purity of C76. On the basis of the 1H NMR spectral profiles of 1Rh in toluene-d8 at 20 degrees C in the presence of enantiomer mixtures of C76 of different optical purities, an absolute Deltaepsilon value of 58.5 M-1 cm-1 at 330 nm was obtained for enantiomerically pure C76.     

Increasing stability of the fullerenes with the number of carbon atoms: the experimental evidence

The values of the molar standard enthalpies of formation, Delta(f)H(o)(m)(C(76), cr) = (2705.6 +/- 37.7) kJ x mol(-1), Delta(f)H(o)(m)(C(78), cr) = (2766.5 +/- 36.7) kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(f)H(o)(m)(C(84), cr) = (2826.6 +/- 42.6) kJ x mol(-1), were determined from the energies of combustion, measured by microcombustion calorimetry on a high-purity sample of the D(2) isomer of fullerene C(76), as well as on a mixture of the two most abundant constitutional isomers of C(78) (C(2nu)-C(78) and D(3)-C(78)) and C(84) (D(2)-C(84), and D(2d)-C(84). These values, combined with the published data on the enthalpies of sublimation of each cluster, lead to the gas-phase enthalpies of formation, Delta(f)H(o)(m)(C(76), g) = (2911.6 +/- 37.9) kJ x mol(-1); Delta(f)H(o)(m)(C(78), g) = (2979.3 +/- 37.2) kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(f)H(o)(m)(C(84), (g)) = (3051.6 +/- 43.0) kJ x mol(-1), results that were found to compare well with those reported from density functional theory calculations. Values of enthalpies of atomization, strain energies, and the average C-C bond energy were also derived for each fullerene. A decreasing trend in the gas-phase enthalpy of formation and strain energy per carbon atom as the size of the cluster increases is found. This is the first experimental evidence that these fullerenes become more stable as they become larger. The derived experimental average C-C bond energy E(C-C) = 461.04 kJ x mol(-1) for fullerenes is close to the average bond energy E(C-C) = 462.8 kJ x mol(-1) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).     

Internal and external factors in the structural organization in cocrystals of the mixed-metal endohedrals (GdSc2N@Ih-C80, Gd2ScN@Ih-C80, and TbSc2N@Ih-C80) and nickel(II) octaethylporphyrin

Structural characterizations of three new mixed-metal endohedrals, GdSc 2N@ I h -C80, Gd 2ScN@ I h -C80, and TbSc 2@ I h -C80, have been obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction on GdSc 2N@ I h -C80 x Ni (II)(OEP) x 2C 6H 6, Gd 2ScN@ I h -C 80 x Ni(II)(OEP) x 2C6H6, and TbSc 2N@ I h -C80 x Ni (II)(OEP) x 2C6H6. All three have I h -C 80 cages and planar MM' 2N units. The central nitride ion is positioned further from the larger Gd3+ or Tb3+ ions and closer to the smaller Sc3+ ions. The MM' 2N units show a remarkable degree of orientational order in these and related compounds in which the endohedral fullerene is cocrystallized with a metalloporphyrin. The MM' 2N units are oriented perpendicularly to the porphyrin plane and aligned along one of the N-Ni-N axes of the porphyrin. The smaller Sc3+ ions show a marked preference to lie near the porphyrin plane. The larger Gd3+ or Tb3+ ions assume positions further from the plane of the porphyrin. The roles of dipole forces and electrostatic forces in ordering these cocrystals of endohedral fullerenes and metalloporphyrins are considered.     

Noncovalent endo-binding of fullerenes to diprotonated bisporphyrins

Noncovalent binding of fullerenes to bisporphyrins was studied in the gas phase by energy-dependent collision-induced dissociation (CID) with Xe under single-collision conditions. The electrospray ionization mass spectra of calix[4]arene-linked bisporphyrins show that bisporphyrins take up to 3-4 protons, depending on the type of meso-substituents. Of the protonated bisporphyrins, the diprotonated species form stable 1:1 complexes with fullerenes (C(60) and C(70)). CID cracking patterns of the diprotonated bisporphyrins indicate that each monomeric porphyrin moiety is singly protonated. CID yield-energy curves obtained from the 1:1 diprotonated bisporphyrin-fullerene complexes suggest that a fullerene occupies the endo-binding site intercalated between the two singly protonated porphyrin moieties. In the cases of 1:2 diprotonated bisporphyrin-fullerene complexes, CID results show that one fullerene binds inside (endo-binding) and the other outside (exo-binding). The exo-binding mode is energetically almost identical to the binding of fullerenes to singly protonated porphyrin monomers. The endo-binding energy is at least twice the exo-binding energy. To gain insights into the binding mode, we optimized structures of diprotonated bisporphyrins and their 1:1 endo-complexes with fullerenes, and calculated the endo-binding energy for C(60), C(70) (end-on), and C(70) (side-on). The endo-binding of fullerenes to diprotonated bisporphyrins nearly doubles the π-π interactions while reducing the electrostatic repulsion between the two singly protonated porphyrin moieties. The side-on binding of C(70) is favored over the end-on binding because the former exerts less steric strain to the lower rim of calixarene.     

3He NMR as a sensitive probe of fullerene reactivity: [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone to C70

The [2 + 2] photoadditions of 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone to C70 and 3He@C70 have been studied by a combination of HPLC chromatography and FAB-MS, as well as IR and 1H and 3He NMR spectroscopies. The total yield of the mixture of monoadducts was 55% (67% on the basis of the recovered C70). The use of 3He NMR was especially powerful in determining the regioselectivity of the photoaddition reaction of enone to C70. Results of the 3He NMR experiments conducted on the product mixture implicate the two [6,6] bonds closest to the poles of the fullerene (C1-C2 and C5-C6) in the photoaddition process. This reaction mode is analogous to that of most thermal addition reactions to C70. Separation and characterization of the product mixture shows that eight distinct monoadducts are formed in the photoaddition, namely, the four diastereomeric adducts to the C1-C2 and C5-C6 bonds of the C70 cage, each consisting of cis- and trans-fused isomers in a ratio of 2:3. The major mode of photoaddition, accounting for 65% of the product mixture, involves addition to the C1-C2 bond of the ovoid fullerene. Mechanistic implications of these findings are discussed.     

Methylation of [76]fullerene and [84]fullerenes; the first oxahomo derivatives of a higher fullerene

Methylation of [76]fullerene by reaction with Al-Ni alloy/NaOH followed by quenching of the intermediate anions with methyl iodide gives a mixture of methylated and methylenated products together with oxide derivatives. The major derivatives are five isomers of C(76)Me(2)(one of C(s) symmetry due to 1,6-C(76)Me(2)) and C(76)(CH(2))(n)(n= 2-4), together with corresponding mono-oxides. The single line (1)H NMR spectrum of mono-oxide C(76)Me(2)O shows it is an oxahomofullerene (ether) the first example derived from [76]fullerene, oxygen being inserted between the CMe groups in 1,6-C(76)Me(2)giving a product of C(2) symmetry. The probable structures of the unsymmetrical dimethyl derivatives have been deduced from heats of formation calculated by AM1 and density functional methods. Bis-oxide C(76)Me(4)O(2) is the first bis oxahomo[76]fullerene to be isolated and gives two equal-intensity lines in the (1)H NMR spectrum showing that it must also have C(2) symmetry; probable structures are considered. Methylation of [84]fullerene takes place less readily and only four C(84)Me(2) derivatives were isolated, two of them in quantities sufficient to show the symmetries as C(1), and either C(2) or C(s).     

Noncovalent binding between fullerenes and protonated porphyrins in the gas phase

Noncovalent interactions between protonated porphyrin and fullerenes (C?? and C??) were studied with five different meso-substituted porphyrins in the gas phase. The protonated porphyrin-fullerene complexes were generated by electrospray ionization of the porphyrin-fullerene mixture in 3:1 dichloromethane/methanol containing formic acid. All singly protonated porphyrins formed the 1:1 complexes, whereas porphyrins doubly protonated on the porphine center yielded no complexes. The complex ion was mass-selected and then characterized by collision-induced dissociation with Xe. Collisional activation exclusively led to a loss of neutral fullerene, indicating noncovalent binding of fullerene to protonated porphyrin. In addition, the dissociation yield was measured as a function of collision energy, and the energy inducing 50% dissociation was determined as a measure of binding energy. Experimental results show that C?? binds to the protonated porphyrins more strongly than C??, and electron-donating substituents at the meso positions increase the fullerene binding energy, whereas electron-withdrawing substituents decrease it. To gain insight into π-π interactions between protonated porphyrin and fullerene, we calculated the proton affinity and HOMO and LUMO energies of porphyrin using Hartree-Fock and configuration interaction singles theory and obtained the binding energy of the protonated porphyrin-fullerene complex using density functional theory. Theory suggests that the protonated porphyrin-fullerene complex is stabilized by π-π interactions where the protonated porphyrin accepts π-electrons from fullerene, and porphyrins carrying bulky substituents prefer the end-on binding of C?? due to the steric hindrance, whereas those carrying less-bulky substituents favor the side-on binding of C??.     

Adsorption and dynamics of long-range interacting fullerenes in a flexible, two-dimensional, nanoporous porphyrin network.

Herein, a detailed investigation of the adsorption and dynamics of C60 and C70 fullerenes hosted in a self-assembled, two-dimensional, nanoporous porphyrin network on a solid Ag surface is presented. Time-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of these supramolecular systems at the molecular scale reveal distinct host-guest interactions giving rise to a pronounced dissimilar mobility of the two fullerenes within the porphyrin network. Furthermore, long-range coverage-dependent interactions between the all-carbon guests, which clearly affect their mobility and are likely mediated by a complex mechanism involving the Ag substrate and the flexible porphyrin host network, are observed. At increased fullerene coverage, this unprecedented interplay results in the formation of large fullerene chains and islands. By applying a lattice gas model with nearest-neighbor interactions and by evaluating the fullerene-pair distribution functions, the respective coverage-dependent guest-guest interaction energies are estimated.     

Capturing C84 isomers as chlorides and pentafluoroethyl derivatives: C84Cl22 and C84(C2F5)12

A mixture of higher fullerenes C(76)-C(96) was pentafluoroethylated with C(2)F(5)I at 250 °C affording a mixture of C(2)F(5) derivatives. After separation with high-performance liquid chromatography, the second C(2)F(5) derivative of C(84)(16), C(84)(C(2)F(5))(12), was investigated by X-ray crystallography and compared with the known isomer in terms of addition patterns and formation energies. Chlorination of a C(84) isomeric mixture with VCl(4) at 350-400 °C resulted in the formation of C(84)Cl(22). X-ray diffraction study revealed the superposition of several C(84)Cl(22) molecules with different isomeric C(84) cages but the same chlorination pattern.     

Fullerene anions of different sizes and shapes: a 13C NMR and density-functional study

A combined experimental and theoretical study was conducted on numerous higher fullerene anions with different sizes and shapes, C76-D2, C78-C2v, C78-D3, C84-D2, and C84-D2d. The corresponding fullerenes were reduced by lithium metal to diamagnetic multiply charged anions. The centers of gravity of the 13C NMR spectra of all the multiply charged anions were deshielded, relative to those of the neutral fullerenes. The results of density functional (DFT) computations of the 13C NMR spectra and the molecular orbitals (MOs) of possible polyanion reduction products suggest that hexaanions were the species formed.     

Facile fullerene modification: FeCl3-mediated quantitative conversion of C60 to polyarylated fullerenes containing pentaaryl(chloro)[60]fullerenes

A facile, one-step reaction using inexpensive reagents has been developed for functionalization of [60]fullerene, where the reaction of C(60) with FeCl(3) in chlorobenzene proceeded at 25 °C with 100% conversion, yielding a mixture of polyarylated products containing pentaaryl(chloro)[60]fullerene, C(60)(C(6)H(4)Cl)(5)Cl (up to 29%) and other polyarylated fullerenes (number of aryl groups is in a range from 5 to 10).     

Driving force and electronic coupling effects on photoinduced electron transfer in a fullerene-based molecular triad

Tuning thermodynamic driving force and electronic coupling through structural modifications of a carotene (C) porphyrin (P) fullerene (C60) molecular triad has permitted control of five electron and energy transfer rate constants and two excited state lifetimes in order to prepare a high-energy charge-separated state by photoinduced electron transfer with a quantum yield of essentially unity (> or = 96%). Excitation of the porphyrin moiety of C-P-C60 is followed by a combination of photoinduced electron transfer to give C-P(.+)-C60.- and singlet-singlet energy transfer to yield C-P-1C60. The fullerene excited state accepts an electron from the porphyrin to also generate C-P(.+)-C60.-. Overall, this initial state is formed with a quantum yield of 0.97. Charge shift from the carotenoid to yield C(.+)-P-C60.- is at least 60 times faster than recombination of C-P(.+)-C60.-, leading to the overall quantum yield near unity for the final state. Formation of a similar charge-separate species from the zinc analog of the triad with a yield of 40% is also observed. Charge recombination of C(.+)-P-C60.- in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran yields the carotenoid triplet state, rather than the ground state. Comparison of the results for this triad with those for related triads with different structural features provides information concerning the effects of driving force and electronic coupling on each of the electron transfer steps.     

Variable-temperature 19F NMR and theoretical study of 1,9- and 1,7-C60F(CF3) and C(s-) and C1-C60F17(CF3): hindered CF3 rotation and through-space J(FF) coupling

Milligram amounts of the new compounds 1,9- and 1,7-C60F(CF3) (ca. 85:15 mixture of isomers) and C60F3(CF3) were isolated from a high-temperature C60/K2PtF6 reaction mixture and purified to 98 mol % compositional purity by two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography using Buckyprep and Buckyclutcher columns. The previously observed compounds C60F5(CF3) and C60F7(CF3) were also purified to 90+ mol % for the first time. Variable-temperature 19F NMR spectra of the mixture of C60F(CF3) isomers and the previously reported mixture of C(s)- and C1-C60F17(CF3) isomers demonstrate for the first time that fullerene(F)n(CF3)m derivatives with adjacent F and CF3 substituents exhibit slow-exchange limit hindered CF3 rotation spectra at -40 +/- 10 degrees C. The experimental and density functional theory (DFT) predicted deltaH++ values for CF3 rotation in 1,9-C60F(CF3) are 46.8(7) and 46 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The DFT-predicted deltaH++ values for 1,7-C60F(CF3), C(s)-C60F17(CF3), and C1-C60F17(CF3) are 20, 44, and 54 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The (> or = 4)J(FF) values from the slow-exchange-limit 19F spectra, which vary from ca. 0 to 48(1) Hz, show that the dominant nuclear spin-spin coupling mechanism is through-space coupling (i.e., direct overlap of fluorine atom lone-pair orbitals) rather than coupling through the sigma-bond framework. The 2J(FF) values within the CF3 groups vary from 107(1) to 126(1) Hz. Collectively, the NMR data provide an unambiguous set of (> or = 4)J(FF) values for three different compounds that can be correlated with DFT-predicted or X-ray diffraction derived distances and angles and an unambiguous set of 2J(FF) values that can serve as an internal standard for all future J(FF) calculations.     

3]rotaxane-porphyrin conjugate as a novel supramolecular host for fullerenes

A new supramolecular host with good affinity toward fullerenes has been developed. This host having a tweezer-like shape is built on a [3]rotaxane scaffold and contains two free-base porphyrin moieties as recognition units for fullerenes. The ability of this tweezer to bind fullerenes strongly depends on the solvent system used and the size of fullerene.     

Expanding the number of stable isomeric structures of the C80 cage: a new fullerene Dy3N@C80

The production, isolation, and spectroscopic characterization of a new Dy3N@C80 cluster fullerene that exhibits three isomers (1-3) is reported for the first time. In addition, the third isomer (3) forms a completely new C80 cage structure that has not been reported in any endohedral fullerenes so far. The isomeric structures of the Dy3N@C80 cluster fullerene were analyzed by studying HPLC retention behavior, laser desorption time-of-flight (LD-TOF) mass spectrometry, and UV-Vis-NIR and FTIR spectroscopy. The three isomers of Dy3N@C80 were all large band-gap (1.51, 1.33, and 1.31 eV for 1-3, respectively) materials, and could be classified as very stable fullerenes. According to results of FTIR spectroscopy, the Dy3N@C80 (I) (1) was assigned to the fullerene cage C80:7 (I(h)), whereas Dy3N@C80 (II) (2) had the cage structure of C80:6 (D(5h)). The most probable cage structure of Dy3N@C80 (III) (3) was proposed to be C80:1 (D(5d)). The significant differences between Dy3N@C80 and other reported M3N@C80 (M = Sc, Y, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, Tm) cluster fullerenes are discussed in detail, and the strong influence of the metal on the nitride cluster fullerene formation is concluded.     

Preparation of η2-complexes of fullerenes by reduction. Crystal structure and optical properties of {Ni(dppp)·(η2-C70)}·(C6H4Cl2)0.5

The new reduction method for preparation of η(2)-complexes of fullerenes with nickel-1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane has been developed in which Ni(dppp)Cl(2) and C(60)(C(70)) mixtures are reduced with sodium tetraphenylborate. Single crystals of the first η(2)-complex of nickel with fullerene C(70): {Ni(dppp)·(η(2)-C(70))}·(C(6)H(4)Cl(2))(0.5) (1) (C(6)H(4)Cl(2) = o-dichlorobenzene) have been obtained as well as the previously described complex with fullerene C(60): {Ni(dppp)·(η(2)-C(60))}·(Solvent) (2). The crystal structure of 1 has been solved to show the coordination of nickel to the C-C bond of C(70) at the 6-6 ring junction of η(2)-type to form Ni-C(C(70)) bonds of 1.929-1.941(2) ? length, the shortest M-C bonds among those known for η(2)-complexes of fullerenes C(60) and C(70). The length of the C-C bond to which Ni atom is coordinated (1.494(3) ?) is noticeably longer than the average length of these bonds in C(70) (1.381(2) ?). Optical spectra of 1 in the IR- and UV-visible ranges have been analyzed to show the splitting of some C(70) bands due to C(70) symmetry lowering. The complex has a red-brown color in solution and manifests three bands in the visible range at 379, 467 and 680 nm. The solution of 1 is air sensitive since air exposure restores the color and absorption bands of the starting C(70) at 383 and 474 nm.     

Stability of silicon-doped C60 dimers

A theoretical investigation on the structure, stability, and thermal behaviors of the smallest polymeric units, the dimers, formed from substitutionally Si-doped fullerenes is presented. A density functional based nonorthogonal tight-binding model has been employed for describing the interatomic interactions. The study focuses on those polymeric structures which involve Si-Si or Si-C interfullerene bonds. The binding energy of the dimers increases with their Si content from about 0.25 eV in C(60)-C(60) to about 4.5 eV in C(58)Si(2)-C(58)Si(2). Moreover, the C(59)SiC(59) dimer, linked through the sharing of the Si atom between the two fullerenes, has been also considered. Upon heating, the dimers eventually fragment into their constituent fullerene units. The fragmentation temperature correlates with the strength of the interfullerene bonds. C(58)Si(2)-C(58)Si(2) exhibits a higher thermal stability (fragmentation temperature of approximately 500 K) than the pure carbon C(60)-C(60) dimer (with a fragmentation temperature of approximately 325 K). Given the higher structural and thermal stabilities of the Si-doped fullerene dimers, the authors propose the use of substitutionally Si-doped fullerenes as the basic units for constructing new fullerene-based polymers.     

A highly C70 selective shape-persistent rectangular prism constructed through one-step alkyne metathesis

Dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) provides an intriguing and highly efficient approach for building molecules that are usually thermodynamically favored. However, the DCC methods that are efficient enough to construct large, complex molecules, particularly those with three-dimensional (3-D) architectures, are still very limited. Here, for the first time, we have successfully utilized alkyne metathesis, a highly efficient DCC approach, to construct the novel 3-D rectangular prismatic molecular cage COP-5 in one step from a readily accessible porphyrin-based precursor. COP-5 consists of rigid, aromatic porphyrin and carbazole moieties as well as linear ethynylene linkers, rendering its shape-persistent nature. Interestingly, COP-5 serves as an excellent receptor for fullerenes. It forms 1:1 complexes with C(60) and C(70) with association constants of 1.4 × 10(5) M(-1) (C(60)) and 1.5 × 10(8) M(-1) (C(70)) in toluene. This represents one of the highest binding affinities reported so far for purely organic fullerene receptors. COP-5 shows an unprecedented high selectivity in binding C(70) over C(60) (K(C70)/K(C60) > 1000). Moreover, the binding between the cage and fullerene is fully reversible under the acid-base stimuli, thus allowing successful separation of C(70) from a C(60)-enriched fullerene mixture (C(60)/C(70), 10/1 mol/mol) through the "selective complexation-decomplexation" strategy.