Toxic Effect of Fullerene and Its Derivatives upon the Transmembrane β2-Adrenergic Receptors

Numerous experiments have revealed that fullerene (C₆₀) and its derivatives can bind to proteins and affect their biological functions. In this study, we explored the interaction between fullerine and the β₂-adrenergic receptor (β₂AR). The MD simulation results show that fullerene binds with the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) and intracellular loop 2 (ICL2) of β₂AR through hydrophobic interactions and π–π stacking interactions. In the C₆₀_in1 trajectory, due to the π–π stacking interactions of fullerene molecules with PHE and PRO residues on ICL2, ICL2 completely flipped towards the fullerene direction and the fullerene moved slowly into the lipid membrane. When five fullerene molecules were placed on the extracellular side, they preferred to stack into a stable fullerene cluster (a deformed tetrahedral aggregate), and had almost no effect on the structure of β₂AR. The hydroxyl groups of fullerene derivatives (C₆₀(OH)_X, X represents the number of hydroxyl groups, X = 4, 8) can form strong hydrogen bonds with the ECL2, helix6, and helix7 of β₂AR. The hydroxyl groups firmly grasp the β₂AR receptor like several claws, blocking the binding entry of ligands. The simulation results show that fullerene and fullerene derivatives may have a significant effect on the local structure of β₂AR, especially the distortion of helix4, but bring about no great changes within the overall structure. It was found that C₆₀ did not compete with ligands for binding sites, but blocked the ligands’ entry into the pocket channel. All the above observations suggest that fullerene and its derivatives exhibit certain cytotoxicity.     

Unveiling the nature of supramolecular crown ether–C60 interactions

A series of exTTF-(crown ether)₂ receptors, designed to host C₆₀, has been prepared. The size of the crown ether and the nature of the heteroatoms have been systematically changed to fine tune the association constants. Electrochemical measurements and transient absorption spectroscopy assisted in corroborating charge transfer in the ground state and in the excited state, leading to the formation of radical ion pairs featuring lifetimes in the range from 12 to 21 ps. To rationalize the nature of the exTTF-(crown ether)₂·C₆₀ stabilizing interactions, theoretical calculations have been carried out, suggesting a synergetic interplay of donor–acceptor, π–π, n–π and CH···π interactions, which is the basis for the affinity of our novel receptors towards C₆₀.     

Antioxidant properties of water-soluble amino acid derivatives of fullerenes and their role in the inhibition of herpes virus infection

The antioxidant properties of water-soluble amino acid derivatives of fullerene C₆₀ (ADF) were studied. It was shown by the change in the concentration of malonic dialdehyde in rat brain mitochondria that the ADF are antioxidants. They were shown by the change in the luminol glow to possess antiradical activity, which is determined by the acceptor properties of the fullerene spheroid and is independent of the structure of the attached addends. Stereoselectivity of the antioxidant properties of the enantiomers of amino acid derivatives of fullerene C₆₀ was found. The L-isomers of ADF inhibit lipid peroxidation, whereas the D-isomers do not inhibit. A reliable correlation between the development of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and the process of lipid peroxidation in the cell culture was established. An efficient inhibitor of the CMV infection from the class of amino acid derivatives of fullerene with antioxidant activity was obtained.

     

A step-economic and one-pot access to chiral Cα-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives via a bicyclic imidazole-catalyzed direct enantioselective C-acylation

C^α-Tetrasubstituted α-amino acids are ubiquitous and unique structural units in bioactive natural products and pharmaceutical compounds. The asymmetric synthesis of these molecules has attracted a lot of attention, but a more efficient method is still greatly desired. Here we describe the first sequential four-step acylation reaction for the efficient synthesis of chiral C^α-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives from simple N-acylated amino acids via an auto-tandem catalysis using a single nucleophilic catalyst. The synthetic efficiency is improved via a direct enantioselective C-acylation; the methodology affords the corresponding C^α-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This step-economic, one-pot, and auto-tandem strategy provides facile access to important chiral building blocks, such as peptides, serines, and oxazolines, which are often used in medicinal and synthetic chemistry.

The first four-step sequential reaction for the synthesis of C^α-tetrasubstituted chiral α-amino acid derivatives via auto-tandem catalysis has been developed.     

Anionic methods for synthesis of star polymers

Leading position among numerous methods for synthesis of star polymers is occupied, as regards their potential and diversity, by techniques based on the anionic polymerization. The review considers five basic approaches to application of the anionic polymerization mechanisms in relation to an agent used or procedure employed (methods with polyfunctional coupling agents, multifunctional initiators, polymerizing and nonpolymerizing divinyl agents; multistage methods, methods using C₆₀ fullerene). All groups of syntheses are illustrated by examples, and advantages of methods for synthesis of various homo- and heteroarm star structures are demonstrated. Particular attention is given to syntheses with C₆₀ fullerene. The potential of C₆₀ fullerene as a coupling agent for “living” polymer chains and methods for conversion of polymeric derivatives of C₆₀ (hexaadducts) to polyfunctional macroinitiators of anionic polymerization are described and techniques for functionalization of polymeric fullerene derivatives and their coupling into structures with a complex controllable architecture are presented.     

A faux hawk fullerene with PCBM-like properties

Reaction of C₆₀, C₆F₅CF₂I, and SnH(n-Bu)₃ produced, among other unidentified fullerene derivatives, the two new compounds 1,9-C₆₀(CF₂C₆F₅)H (1) and 1,9-C₆₀(cyclo-CF₂(2-C₆F₄)) (2). The highest isolated yield of 1 was 35% based on C₆₀. Depending on the reaction conditions, the relative amounts of 1 and 2 generated in situ were as high as 85% and 71%, respectively, based on HPLC peak integration and summing over all fullerene species present other than unreacted C₆₀. Compound 1 is thermally stable in 1,2-dichlorobenzene (oDCB) at 160 °C but was rapidly converted to 2 upon addition of Sn₂(n-Bu)₆ at this temperature. In contrast, complete conversion of 1 to 2 occurred within minutes, or hours, at 25 °C in 90/10 (v/v) PhCN/C₆D₆ by addition of stoichiometric, or sub-stoichiometric, amounts of proton sponge (PS) or cobaltocene (CoCp₂). DFT calculations indicate that when 1 is deprotonated, the anion C₆₀(CF₂C₆F₅)^– can undergo facile intramolecular S_NAr annulation to form 2 with concomitant loss of F^–. To our knowledge this is the first observation of a fullerene-cage carbanion acting as an S_NAr nucleophile towards an aromatic C–F bond. The gas-phase electron affinity (EA) of 2 was determined to be 2.805(10) eV by low-temperature PES, higher by 0.12(1) eV than the EA of C₆₀ and higher by 0.18(1) eV than the EA of phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). In contrast, the relative E _1/2(0/–) values of 2 and C₆₀, –0.01(1) and 0.00(1) V, respectively, are virtually the same (on this scale, and under the same conditions, the E _1/2(0/–) of PCBM is –0.09 V). Time-resolved microwave conductivity charge-carrier yield × mobility values for organic photovoltaic active-layer-type blends of 2 and poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) were comparable to those for equimolar blends of PCBM and P3HT. The structure of solvent-free crystals of 2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The number of nearest-neighbor fullerene–fullerene interactions with centroid···centroid (⊙···⊙) distances of ≤10.34 Å is significantly greater, and the average ⊙···⊙ distance is shorter, for 2 (10 nearest neighbors; ave. ⊙···⊙ distance = 10.09 Å) than for solvent-free crystals of PCBM (7 nearest neighbors; ave. ⊙···⊙ distance = 10.17 Å). Finally, the thermal stability of 2 was found to be far greater than that of PCBM.     

Optical circular dichroism of the fullerene amino acid derivatives

The dependence of the circular dichroism spectra of the amino acid derivatives of fullerene C₆₀ on the structure of the initial α-amino acid was studied.     

Classical Valence Similarity in Fullerene Derivatives

Summary.  The generalized Pauling bond order was enumerated in the C₆₀ fullerene cage molecule (truncated icosahedral symmetry). This index measures chemical similarity in fullerene derivatives such as dihydrofullerene (C₆₀H₂), anionized monohydrofullerene (C₆₀H⁻), N-substituted monohydrofullerene (C₅₉NH), the fullerene dimer ((C₆₀)₂), and the dianionic fullerene dimer ((C₆₀)₂ ²⁻). It is also useful in judging the chemical stability of isomers. Received October 9, 2001. Accepted November 9, 2001     

Gas‐phase fragmentation of protonated C60‐pyrimidine derivatives

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS) and multiple stage mass spectrometry (MSⁿ, n > 2) were used in the positive ion mode, with two different types of mass spectrometers, a quadrupole time‐of‐flight and an ion trap, to characterize two sets of different types of C₆₀‐aminopyrimidine exohedral derivatives. In one set, the pyrimidine moiety bears an amino acid methyl ester residue, and in the other the pyrimidine ring is part of a nucleoside‐type moiety, the latter existing as two separated diastereoisomers. We have found that retro‐cycloaddition processes occur for the closed shell protonated species formed by electrospraying C₆₀ derivatives synthesized by Diels–Alder reactions, whereas for the C₆₀ derivatives synthesized via 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions, these processes did not occur. Formation of diagnostic ions allowed the differentiation between the two groups of fullerene derivatives, and between the diastereoisomers of C₆₀ derivatives with a nucleoside‐type moiety. In general, the fragmentation processes are strongly dependent on the protonation sites and on the structure of the exohedral moieties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of [60]fullerene-glycopyranosylaminopyrimidin-4-one conjugates

The synthesis of several C₆₀ derivatives containing a 6-(β-d-glycopyranosylamino)pyrimidin-4-one unit and a C₆₀-uridine conjugate is described. The fullerene derivatives bearing a 4-(β-d-glycopyranosylamino)pyrimidin-4-one moiety were synthesised by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of C₆₀ with azomethine ylides generated in situ from the corresponding 5-formylpyrimidin-4-one derivatives and N-methylglycine. The synthesis of the C₆₀-uridine conjugate involved the selective protection of the 2′- and 3′-hydroxyl groups of uridine, esterification, cyclopropanation of C₆₀ and, finally, the deprotection of the hydroxyl groups. One of the fullerene-glycopyranosylaminopyrimidin-4-one conjugates was characterised by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Differentiation between pairs of diastereoisomers, for several fullerene derivatives, was achieved through the study of their gas-phase fragmentations.     

Synthesis and Polar and Electrooptical Properties of a Butylamine Derivative of Fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

A butylamine derivative of fullerene was prepared by the reaction of butylamine with fullerene C₆₀. The experimental electrooptical and dipole characteristics of the derivative were compared with the corresponding calculated PM3 data. The reaction product proved to be inhomogeneous in the number of the amine molecules added; it contains polar multiadducts of C₆₀ with noncentrosymmetric distribution of covalently bound amino groups over the fullerene core.__________Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 75, No. 5, 2005, pp. 795–802.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Evlampieva, Yakimanskii, Dobrodumov, Nazarova, Pashkov, Panarin, Ryumtsev.     

A theoretical investigation on the structures and stabilities of C<Subscript>60</Subscript>X<Subscript>18</Subscript> and C<Subscript>70</Subscript>X<Subscript>10</Subscript> (X = H,F, Cl,and Br)

A density functional theory study was performed on fullerene derivatives C₆₀X₁₈ and C₇₀X₁₀ (X = H, F, Cl, and Br). The calculated results show that the lowest energy isomers are IPR-satisfying for C₆₀X₁₈ (X = H, F, Cl, and Br). It is found that the addition patterns of X (X = Cl and Br) are different from those of X (X = H and F) for C₆₀, demonstrating that the stability of fullerene derivatives is partly attributed to the steric repulsion and electronegativity of added atoms. However, the lowest energy isomers are IPR-violating for C₇₀X₁₀ (X = H, F, and Cl), suggesting that many more fullerene derivatives may violate the isolated pentagon rule.     

Antioxidant capacity of novel amine derivatives of buckminsterfullerene: Determination of inhibition rate constants in a model oxidation system

The radical scavenging efficiency of fullerenes can be significantly activated by means of a connection with hydrogen donating groups of antioxidants such as phenolic, amine and sulfhydryl. The developed system of conjugated σ–π bonds arranged in the fullerene molecule in a closed shape can promote a strong resonance effect on the grafted units and increase the hydrogen atom abstraction efficiency. In this case the known ability of fullerene to trap alkyl radicals might be combined with the strong chain breaking functionality to afford a new class of antioxidants with bimodal action. Explorations in the field of fullerene derivatives on their antioxidant performance provide novel information on the potential stabilization properties of this type of molecular structure. A series of amine derivatives of buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) with tethered aliphatic chain, cycloaliphatic and aromatic fragments were synthesized and their antioxidant activity was determined. The antioxidant activity of the investigated derivatives was studied by measuring the inhibition rate constants for their reaction with alkyl and peroxy radicals in a model cumene initiated (2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, AIBN) oxidation experiments and compared to that recorded under identical experiments for buckminsterfullerene itself and commercial primary aromatic amine stabilizers. The results indicate that linking the amine moieties groups directly to the fullerene core gives rise to a new chain breaking antioxidant mode for the buckminsterfullerene while cyclic fragments containing the same but distant amine group do not reveal this ability. The inhibition rate constants for trapping of peroxy radicals by the amine derivatives were found to be higher than that of known aromatic amine antioxidants Neozone-D and Naugard 445. In addition the C₆₀ part of these molecules acts synergistically by trapping alkyl radicals with inhibition rate constants which exceed that of underivatised fullerene. The amine derivative containing sterically hindered piperidine and pyrrolidine fragments also heighten the inherent rate constant of buckminsterfullerene for scavenging alkyl radicals due to the additional antioxidant contribution promoted by the radical-quenching ability of the formed nitroxyl intermediates. These novel C₆₀–amine conjugates may be considered as promising molecules for broad-spectrum radical scavenging antioxidants.     

A supramolecular polymeric heterojunction composed of an all-carbon conjugated polymer and fullerenes

Herein, we design and synthesize a novel all-carbon supramolecular polymer host (SPh) containing conjugated macrocycles interconnected by a linear poly(para-phenylene) backbone. Applying the supramolecular host and fullerene C₆₀ as the guest, we successfully construct a supramolecular polymeric heterojunction (SPh⊃C₆₀). This carbon structure offers a means to explore the convex–concave π–π interactions between SPh and C₆₀. The produced SPh was characterized by gel permeation chromatography, mass spectrometry, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and other spectroscopies. The polymeric segment can be directly viewed using a scanning tunneling microscope. Femtosecond transient absorption and fluorescence up-conversion measurements revealed femtosecond (≪300 fs) electron transfer from photoexcited SPh to C₆₀, followed by nanosecond charge recombination to produce the C₆₀ triplet excited state. The potential applications of SPh⊃C₆₀ in electron- and hole-transport devices were also investigated, revealing that C₆₀ incorporation enhances the charge transport properties of SPh. These results expand the scope of the synthesis and application of supramolecular polymeric heterojunctions.

Herein, we design and synthesize a novel all-carbon supramolecular polymer host (SPh) containing conjugated macrocycles interconnected by a linear poly(para-phenylene) backbone.     

Preparation and study of hydrides of fullerenes C60 and C70

Fullerene hydrides were prepared by hydrogenation of fullerences C₆₀ and C₇₀ using proton transfer from 9,10-dihydroanthracene to fullerene and were studied by mass spectrometry (electron impact, field desorption), IR, UV, and¹H and¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The main product of the hydrogenation of C₆₀ is C₆₀H₃₆, which is sufficiently stable. Hydrogenation of fullerene C₇₀ gives a series of polyhydrides C₇₀H _n (n=36–46), and the main product is C₇₀H₃₆. The dehydrogenation of C₆₀H₃₆ by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone is not quantitative and results in the formation of fullerene derivatives along with C₆₀. The comparison of the IR and¹H and¹³C NMR spectral data for solid C₆₀H₃₆ with the theoretical calculations suggests that the fullerene hydride has aT-symmetric structure and contains four isolated benzenoid rings located at tetrahedral positions on the surface of the closed skeleton of the molecule. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya. No. 4, pp. 671–678, April, 1997.     

Synthesis of fullerene building blocks bearing alkyne or azide groups and their subsequent functionalization by the copper mediated Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

C₆₀ derivatives bearing either terminal alkyne or azide functional groups have been prepared and used as building blocks under the copper mediated Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition conditions. In general, the reactivity of C₆₀ toward azides does not significantly compete with the cycloaddition leading to the desired 1,2,3-triazole derivatives and good yields can be obtained when fullerene derivatives with reasonable solubility are used as starting materials. The electrochemical properties of the new fullerene derivatives have also been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Osteryoung Square Wave Voltammetry (OSWV).     

Detection of σ-alkane complexes of manganese by NMR and IR spectroscopy in solution: (η5-C5H5)Mn(CO)2(ethane) and (η5-C5H5)Mn(CO)2(isopentane)

Irradiation of CpMn(CO)₃ in liquid ethane at 135 K at 355 nm yields a photoproduct that exhibits ν(CO) bands in the IR spectrum shifted to low wavenumber with respect to CpMn(CO)₃ that are indicative of a Mn(i) dicarbonyl. Parallel experiments employing in situ irradiation within an NMR probe (133 K, 355 nm photolysis) reveal the ¹H NMR signals of this product and confirm its formulation as the σ-ethane complex CpMn(CO)₂(η²-C1–H-ethane). The resonance of its coordinated C–H group is observed at δ –5.84 and decays with lifetime of ca. 360 s. Analogous photolysis experiments in isopentane solution with IR detection produce CpMn(CO)₂(η²-C–H-isopentane) with similar IR bands to those of CpMn(CO)₂(η²-C–H-ethane). ¹H NMR spectra of the same species were obtained by irradiation of CpMn(CO)₃ in a 60 : 40 mixture of propane and isopentane; three isomers of CpMn(CO)₂(η²-C–H-isopentane) were detected with coordination of manganese at the two inequivalent methyl positions and at the methylene group, respectively. The lifetimes of these isomers are ca. 380 ± 20 s at 135 K and do not vary significantly from each other. These σ-complexes of manganese are far more reactive than those of related CpRe(CO)₂(alkane) complexes which are stable in solution at 170–180 K. The room temperature lifetimes of CpMn(CO)₂(η²-C–H-ethane) and CpMn(CO)₂(η²-C–H-isopentane), as determined by TRIR spectroscopy, are 2.0 ± 0.1 and 28 ± 1 μs, respectively.     

Selective reduction of fullerene C60 by metals in neutral and alkaline media. Interaction of C60 with KOH

The reduction of fullerene C₆₀ by Zn and Mg in DMF was studied both in the presence and absence of KOH. Fullerene C₆₀ was reduced in these systems to form the C₆₀ ^n– (n = 1, 2, and 3) anions. The anions were detected by optical and ESR spectroscopies. It was found that Mg reduced C₆₀ to the monoanion, Mg/KOH and Zn reduced C₆₀ to the dianion, and Zn/KOH reduced C₆₀ to the trianion. Like KCN, potassium hydroxide adds to fullerene upon interaction with C₆₀ in DMF. The reaction of C₆₀ with KOH in benzonitrile was accompanied by the generation of the fullerene monoanion. A possible mechanism of the formation of fullerene monoanions in the presence of KOH is discussed. The degradation of the C₆₀ ^n– anions in air was studied.     

Formation of dimer, trimer, and tetramer of C60 and C70 by γ-ray, charged-particle irradiation, and their HPLC separation

C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes were irradiated by high-energy γ-rays and charged particles. Coalesced products of C₆₀ and C₇₀ have been isolated and detected in the liquid phase by a radiochromatographic technique. It was found that not only ¹¹C radioactive fullerene dimer, trimer, and possibly tetramer were produced by a recoil implantation process following nuclear reaction, but also such non-radioactive coalesced products were produced by the recombination process after ionization by γ-rays or charged particles.     

Rapid Separation of Hydrophobic Compounds by UPLC: in Case of Bisindolylmaleimides, Indolocarbazoles or Fullerene C60 Derivatives

Rapid separation of hydrophobic compounds such as bisindolylmaleimides, indolocarbazoles or fullerene C₆₀ derivatives by ultra performance liquid chromatography was developed. Bisindolylmaleimides and indolocarbazoles were separated within 7 and 5 min, respectively. The linear ranges for the determination of bisindolylmaleimides and indolocarbazoles were 1.25?500 pmol and 0.5?50 pmol per injection (r > 0.99), respectively. Fullerene C₆₀ derivatives were separated within 9 min, and the linear range for the determination of fullerene C₆₀ derivatives was 0.1?10 pmol per injection (r > 0.99).