Quantum chemical modeling of the addition reactions of 1‐n‐phenylpropyl radicals to C60 fullerene

Modeling of the addition of various radicals to C₆₀ fullerene is currently an active research area. However, the radicals considered are not able to adequately model polymeric radicals. In this work, we have performed a theoretical study of the possible reactions of C₆₀ fullerene with 1‐n‐phenylpropyl radicals, which are used to model polystyrene radicals. Several possible ways of subsequent addition of up to four 1‐phenylpropyl radicals to C₆₀ have been analyzed, the structures of the intermediates have been defined and thermal properties, such as the activation enthalpies of the corresponding reactions, have been calculated using density functional theory with the approximation of PBE/3z. It is shown that the topology of the spin density distribution on the fullerenyl radical causes regioselectivity for further radical addition. According to the energetic characteristics of the reactions, we assume the possibility of formation of products of one‐, two‐, three‐, and four‐ addition of the growth radical to the fullerene core in radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of C₆₀ fullerene. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.