Reactions of fullerene C60 with methyl methacrylate radicals: A density functional theory study

We have investigated the stepwise addition of four growing methyl methacrylate (MMA) radicals to C₆₀ fullerene, taking into account all possible types of the formed adducts. This reaction set is a reliable approximation for understanding the MMA polymerization process in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene. We have analyzed the structures of the fullerene-MMA adducts and energy parameters of their formation (heat effects and activation enthalpies). We found that up to three MMA growing radicals are favorably attached to C₆₀ as the fullerene-MMA trisadduct is a stable radical of the allyl type. It is inactive for further radical addition, and the elimination of the hydrogen atom from the growing MMA radical becomes preferable. The effects of steric factors and structures of the products of multiple growing MMA radical additions to C₆₀ on the radical polymerization of MMA in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene are considered.     

Interaction of polystyrene and fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> in benzene: Composition and molecular properties of the product

The molecular properties and composition of fullerene-containing polystyrenes prepared through evaporation of solvent from the combined solution of a polymer and C₆₀ in benzene have been studied by viscometry, translational isothermal diffusion, GPC, UV spectroscopy, and electrooptical Kerr effect measurements. With this procedure of C₆₀ introduction into the polymer, a partial depolymerization of the parent polystyrene takes place. It has been shown that the composites contain fullerene in two forms: a smaller part of C₆₀ is bound to macromolecules, while a larger part of C₆₀ is incorporated into the composition of low-molecularmass adducts—the products arising from the interaction of fullerene with fullerene-induced depolymerized polystyrene.     

Pressure effect on heterogeneous trifluoromethylation of fullerenes and its application

The first systematic study of heterogeneous fullerene trifluoromethylation using an innovative gradient-temperature gas-solid reactor revealed a significant effect of CF₃I pressure on the conversion of C₆₀ and C₇₀ into trifluoromethylated products and on the range of fullerene(CF₃)_n compositions that were obtained. The design of the reactor allowed us to lower the residence times of fullerene(CF₃)_n species in the hot zone which resulted in the significant differences in relative isomeric distributions as compared to the earlier methods. For the first time, gram quantities of trifluoromethylated fullerenes were prepared using the new reactor, and the selective synthesis of a single-isomer C₆₀(CF₃)₂ was developed. The relative reactivity of C₇₀ as a CF₃ radical scavenger was found to be much lower than that of C₆₀, especially at an early radical addition stage, which led to the cost-efficient synthesis of C₆₀(CF₃)₂ from a fullerene extract.     

Exohedral Addition Chemistry of the Fullerenide Anions C602− and C60⋅−

A systematic screening study of the exohedral reactivity of the reduced fullerenes (fullerenides) C₆₀²⁻ and C₆₀^⋅− is reported. These doubly and singly negatively charged carbon cages were prepared by two-fold reduction of C₆₀ with potassium, leading to K₂C₆₀, or by in situ monoreduction with the radical anion of benzonitrile PhCN^⋅−, respectively. Several series of electrophiles, including geminal and distant dihalides, benzyl bromides, and diazonium compounds, were employed as addition partners. In general, the investigated bromides proved to be the most suitable reaction partners. A series of fullerene adducts and cycloadducts involving either 1,2- or 1,4-addition patterns, depending on the precise architecture and the steric demand of the addends, were synthesized and fully characterized. Some of the reaction products are unprecedented and inaccessible forms of neutral C₆₀. The fullerenide chemistry presented here closely resembles related reactions of graphenides and carbon nanotubides, which are the most powerful methods for the functionalization of these macromolecular forms of synthetic carbon allotropes (SCAs). Activation of C₆₀ by negative charging represents a little explored concept of fullerene chemistry, providing both new insights of fullerene reactivity itself and new types of exohedral derivatives.     

Synthesis of di‐ and tetra‐adducts by addition of polystyrene macroradicals onto fullerene C60

Br‐terminated polystyrenes of controlled molar masses and low polydispersities prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) can be converted to macroradicals using an appropriate catalytic complex (CuBr/bipyridine/100 °C). The addition of this macroradicals PS° to 6–6 bonds of C₆₀ follows a specific atom transfer radical addition mechanism that favors the grafting of even number of chains onto the fullerene core. This peculiar mechanism, resulting from the properties of C₆₀, offers an easy synthetic route toward well‐defined di‐ and tetra‐adducts. In these adducts the disturbance of the electronic structure of the fullerene is kept at its minimum, as only one double bond needs to be opened on the C₆₀ to add two PS chains and only two double bonds are converted to single bonds in the tetra‐adduct. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3456–3463, 2004     

Base-promoted reaction of C60Cl6 with thioamides: an access to [60]fullereno[1,9-d] thiazoles

Regioselective reaction of C₆₀Cl₆ with thioamides via a radical annulation to form fullereno thiazole derivatives is reported. The reaction is promoted by K₂CO₃, which might deprotonate thioamide to initiate a single electron transfer from thioamide anion to C₆₀Cl₆. The experiments with various thioamides establish the proposed base-promoted reaction as a facile route for synthesis of fullereno fused thiazole derivatives starting from C₆₀Cl₆, a prevalent synthon in fullerene chemistry. In addition, the tunable electrochemical properties of the fullereno thiazole products have been investigated for their potential photovoltaic application.     

In situ ESR–UV/VIS/NIR spectroelectrochemistry of an empty fullerene anion and cation: The C82:3 isomer

The application of in situ ESR–UV/VIS/NIR spectroelectrochemistry to the highly purified C₈₂:3 fullerene isomer with C₂ symmetry made the detailed characterization of the radical structures formed by electrochemical generation possible. This first comprehensive spectroelectrochemical study of the stable radical anion and cation of an empty cage higher fullerene in acid-free organic electrolyte is a contribution to the general understanding of charged states at endohedral fullerenes.     

Electrochemical and chemical reduction of pyridyl-substituted pyrrolidinofullerenes

Using cyclic voltammetry, it is shown that formal reduction potentials of pyridyl-substituted pyrrolidinofullerenes are shifted to negative values as compared with formal potentials of the corresponding redoxtransitions of C₆₀, which indicates weakening of the acceptor properties of the fullerene fragment. NIR spectrophotometric and EPR spectroscopic studies show that cis-2′,5′-di-(4-pyridinyl)pyrrolidino-[3′,4′:1,2][60]fullerene is reduced with 1,8-diazobicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene and morpholine to give a radical anion.     

Pentamethylated derivatives of [60]fullerene: X-ray structure of the C60Me5H and ESR spectroscopy evidence for the stable radical C60Me5

Single-crystal X-ray study of 6,9,12,15,18-pentamethyl-1,6,9,12,15,18-hexahydro(C₆₀-I_h)[5,6]fullerene (C₆₀Me₅H) has been reported. In crystal packing, the stacking self-organization of molecules is realized. It is concluded that the formation of such polar columns is a general rule for crystals of C₆₀R₅H independent of the nature of the R group. An ESR spectrum of the stable fullerenyl radical of the cyclopentadienyl-type, C₆₀Me₅, was observed in a sample of the pentamethylated[60]fullerene. Rotation of methyl groups around C-C bonds is restricted on the ESR scale time and therefore protons within each methyl group are non-equivalent.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the molecular complex of fullerence C60 with 2-(4-thiono-1,3-dithiolan-5-ylidene)-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-diselenol (C60·2DTDS)

A new molecular complex of fullerene C₆₀ with 2-(4-thiono-1,3-dithiolan-5-ylidene)-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-diselenol (C₆₀·2DTDS) was synthesized for the first time. The crystal and molecular structures of C₆₀·2DTDS were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of C₆₀·2DTDS is layered: the layers of fullerene C₆₀ molecules alternate with those of DTDS molecules. The molecules of C₆₀ and DTDS are associated by shortened C...Se, C...S, and C...C contacts forming a three-dimensional network of secondary interactions in the crystal. The C₆₀·2DTDS crystals have a specific feature: the absence of shortened C...C contacts between the nearest C₆₀ molecules despite the short distances between their centers, 9.948(2) and 10.054(2) Å. The electrochemical properties of DTDS were studied by cyclic voltammetry in CH₂Cl₂/0.05M Bu₄NPF₆ at room temperature. DTDS undergoes reversible one-electron reduction to a radical anion [E ^o=?1.81 V (Fc^0/+)] and reversible one-electron oxidation to a radical cation [E ^o=+0.37 V (Fc^0/+)]. The degree of charge transfer in C₆₀·2DTDS, ΔN=0.18, calculated from the electrochemical parameters of DTDS and C₆₀ indicates that this compound is a molecular complex with a partial charge transfer.     

A Molecular Shuttle Driven by Fullerene Radical‐Anion Recognition

We describe a electrochemically driven molecular shuttle, in which shuttling takes place by means of fullerene radical‐anion recognition that results in a very low operation potential (E_1/2=?0.580 V vs. decamethylferrocene). This has been achieved by introducing positive charges on the macrocycle, which strengthen the existing π–π interactions between the macrocycle and the electrogenerated fullerene radical anion by means of an electrostatic component. In addition, the synthesis of such a molecular shuttle has been accomplished by developing a new synthetic approach that exploits the controlled translocation of the macrocycle as a selective protecting group.     

Photophysical Properties and Photoinduced Electron Transfer between[60]Fullerene—containing Cyclic Sulphoxide [C60—C60H8SO]and Tetrathiafulvalene（TTF） by Laser Flash Photolysis

Photoinduced electron transfer(PET) processes between C60-C6H8SO and Tetrathiafulvalene(TTF) have been studied by nanosecond laser photolysis.Quantrm yiekds(φet) and rate constants of electron transfer(ket) from TTF to excited triplet state of[60] fullerene-containing cyclic sulphoxide in benzonitrile(BN) have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the NIR region.With the decay of excited triplet state of [60]fullerene-containing cyclic suplhoxide,the rise of radical anion of [60]fullerene-containing cyclic sulphoxinde is observed.     

Carbon nanotubes and fullerene in the solution polymerisation of acrylonitrile

The radical activity of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and fullerene C₆₀ in the radical polymerisation of acrylonitrile (AN) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) initiated by 2,2′-azobis[2-methyl-ω-hydroxy-oligo(oxyethylene) propionate] [AIB-OOE(4 0 0)] and 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 333 K was investigated in situ using a dilatometric method. The carbonaceous substances were sonicated in DMF before the polymerisation. The changes in the process proceeding in the presence of SWCNT and C₆₀ in a comparison to the course of AN polymerisation without the participation of carbonaceous substances (the decrease of the reaction rate, the induction time) indicated on the inhibition effect, which can be described quantitatively using the inhibition parameter F. Single wall carbon nanotubes were found to act as retarders whereas fullerene C₆₀ as an inhibitor in the AN polymerisation. The changes in the chemical structure of products reveal that the carbon nanotubes and fullerenes are chemically bonded with the polymer.     

On the Mechanism of Action of Fullerene Derivatives in Superoxide Dismutation

We have studied the mechanism of the antioxidant activity of C₆₀ derivatives at the BP86/TZP level with inclusion of solvent effects (DMSO) by using the COSMO approach. The reaction studied here involves degradation of the biologically relevant superoxide radical (O₂^.?), which is linked to tissue damage in several human disorders. Several fullerene derivatives have experimentally been shown to be protective in cell culture and animal models of injury, but precisely how these compounds protect biological systems is still unknown. We have investigated the activity of tris‐malonyl C₆₀ (also called C₃), which efficiently removes the superoxide anion with an activity in the range of several biologically effective, metal‐containing superoxide dismutase mimetics. The antioxidant properties of C₃ are attributed to the high affinity of C₆₀ to accept electrons. Our results show that once the superoxide radical is in contact with the surface of C₃, its unpaired electron is transferred to the fullerene. This process, which converts the damaging O₂^.? to neutral oxygen O₂, is the rate‐determining step of the reaction. Afterwards, another superoxide radical reacts with C₃^.? to form hydrogen peroxide and in the process takes up the additional electron that was transferred in the first step. The overall process is clearly exothermic and, in general, involves reaction steps with relatively low activation barriers. The capability of C₃ to degrade a highly reactive oxygen species that is linked to several human diseases is of immediate interest for future applications in the field of biology and medicine.     

Laser flash photolysis of fullerols of C60 and of C70 in aqueous solutions

Fullerols of C₆₀ and of C₇₀ [C₆₀(OH)_n, C₇₀(OH)_m], water-soluble fullerene derivatives, unlike some other fullerene derivatives (such as C₆₀ (C₄H₆O), C₆₀ (C₃H₇N) and C₆₀ [C(COOEt)₂]_x), do not result in excited triplet state but in ionization via monophotonic process in aqueous solutions with 248 nm laser. The quantum yields of formation of hydrated electron (Φ_e ⁻) are determined to be 0.08 and 0.11 for fullerols of C₆₀ and of C₇₀ respectively at room temperature (ca. 15°C) with KI solution used as reference. By laser flash photolysis and oxidation of sulfate radical anion SO₄ ⁻, the fullerol radical cation or neutral radical of C₆₀ is confirmed to be existent and the transient absorption spectra of fullerol radical cation of C₇₀ are observed for the first time. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Pyrimidine ortho-quinodimethanes. Part 2: Synthesis of new [60]fullerene adducts based on substituted pyrimidine derivatives and their 1H NMR dynamic study

The Diels–Alder reaction of various pyrimidine ortho-quinodimethanes generated in situ with C₆₀ gives access to a variety of new fullerodihydroquinazoline derivatives. This variety is increased since substituents on the pyrimidine ring can be easily modified before or after its reaction with C₆₀. Variable temperature ¹H NMR spectra provided thermodynamic parameters related to the boat-to-boat interconversion of the cyclohexene ring fused to the fullerene moiety. The mass spectra of the prepared cycloadducts show that the retro-Diels–Alder process takes place easily with elimination of the corresponding diene molecule.     

Exploring the photoinduced electron transfer reactivity of aza[60]fullerene iminium cation

Photolysis of (C₅₉N)₂ solutions in the presence of neutral π-donors, such as arenes and electron-rich alkenes leads to a series of novel aza[60]fullerene monoadducts. The key step of the reaction involves a photoinduced electron transfer from the donor molecule to the iminium cation of aza[60]fullerene, followed by radical coupling of the resulting aza[60]fullerenyl radical with an intermediate stabilized radical derived from the substrate. This type of reactivity has been proven efficient with arenes having oxidation potential higher than about 1.5 V. Simple olefins, such as tri- and tetra-methylethylene, as well as cyclohexene, can also participate in this kind of photoinduced electron transfer-initiated reaction with C₅₉N⁺, affording the corresponding aza[60]fullerene derivatives. In the case of 2-methoxyprop-1-ene, 2,4-hexadiene, and β,β-dimethylstyrene, [2+2] cycloaddition reactions with the aza[60]fullerene carbon shell dominate, leading to a mixture of unidentified multiadducts.     

Solvent free mechanochemical oxygenation of fullerene under oxygen atmosphere

Oxygenation of fullerene took place under mechanical stressing by a simple vibration mill in an oxygen atmosphere at 1 atm. Milled products were mixtures of poly-oxidized fullerene, C₆₀O_n, containing C-O-C and CO bonds. We observed a concurrent reaction as well, that is, polymerization of C₆₀ and C₆₀O. The average number of oxygen, n, of the overall products obtained by milling for 5 h was 8.6 per molecule of C₆₀. We confirmed generation of singlet oxygen during the present mechanochemical reaction by an ESR spin trapping method. Trapping of ¹O₂ was completely inhibited the oxygenation of fullerene. Formation of ¹O₂ is attributed to the energy transfer from mechanically excited state of fullerene and plays a decisive role on the present oxygenation of fullerene under mechanical stressing in O₂. In contrast, no ¹O₂ was observed by mechanically stressing the conventional photo-sensitizer, rosebengal. The difference in the behavior of C₆₀ and rosebengal is interpreted in terms of molecular deformation, being much easier for a 3D molecule, C₆₀, than a planar molecule, in line with the concept of inverse Jahn-Teller effects.     

Ring-opening reaction of tetrahydrofuran on the penta(organo)[60]fullerenes: synthesis of hydroxybutyl, methacrylate, and norbornene derivatives

Ring-opening reaction of tetrahydrofuran takes place on penta(methyl)- and penta(n-butylphenyl)[60]fullerenes in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane giving penta(organo)fullerene hydroxybutyl derivatives, C₆₀R₅(C₄H₈OH) (R = Me, ⁿBuC₆H₄). The hydroxyl groups were further transformed into methacrylate and norbornylcarbonyloxy groups via esterification with the corresponding acid chlorides. The methacrylate derivative, penta(methyl)[60]fullerenylbutyl methacrylates was crystallographically characterized.     

Catalytic [2+1] cycloaddition of diazo compounds to [60]fullerene

A catalytic method for the efficient synthesis of 5,6-open and 6,6-closed (2π+1π) fullerene adducts by [2+1] cycloaddition of ethyl 2-alkyl(hetaryl)-2-diazoacetates to [60]fullerene in the presence of a three-component catalyst Pd(acac)₂—PPh₃—Et₃Al have been developed.