Catalytic hydrogenation of C60 on transition metals

The catalytic hydrogenation of C₆₀ on Ru, Rh and Ir produced C₆₀H₁₈ mainly, while Pd, Pt, Co and Ni catalysts gave C₆₀H₃₆ principally. Very little activity was observed on Au and Fe. The higher hydrogenated fullerene obtained on Pd, Pt, Co and Ni was ascribed to the smaller % d-character of the metallic bond, on which the fullerene and hydrogen may more strongly be adsorbed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Semiempirical molecular dynamics studies of C60/C70 fullerene oxides: C60O, C60O2 and C70O

The spectral analysis indicates that all isomers of C₆₀O, C₇₀O and C₆₀O₂ have an epoxide-like structure (an oxygen atom bridging across a C–C bond). According to the geometrical structure analysis, there are two isomers of fullerene monoxide C₆₀O (the 5,6 bond and the 6,6 bond), eight isomers of fullerene monoxide C₇₀O and eight isomers of fullerene dioxide C₆₀O₂. In order to simulate the real reaction conditions at 300 K, the calculation of the different isomers of C₆₀O, C₆₀O₂ and C₇₀O fullerene oxides was carried out using the semiempirical molecular dynamics method with two different approaches: (a) consideration of the geometries and thermodynamic stabilities, and (b) consideration of the ozonolysis mechanism. According to the semiempirical molecular dynamic calculation analysis, the probable product of this ozonolysis reaction is C₆₀O with oxygen bridging over the 6–6 bond (C_2v). The most probable product in this reaction contains oxygen bridging across in the upper part of C₇₀ (6–6 bond in C₇₀O-2 or C₇₀O-4) an epoxide-like structure. C₆₀O₂-1, C₆₀O₂-3 and C₆₀O₂-5 are the most probable products for the fullerene dioxides. All of these reaction products are consistent with the experimental results. It is confirmed that the calculation results with the semiempirical molecular dynamics method are close to the experimental work. The semiempirical molecular dynamics method can offer both the reaction temperature effect by molecular dynamics and electronic structure, dipole moment by quantum chemistry calculation.     

Reactions of fullerene C60 with organometallic azides

Reactions of fullerene C₆₀ with organometallic azides [Et₂AlN₃, EtAl(N₃)₂ and Bu₃SnN₃] led to novel 1-azido-2-alkylfullerenes. The structures of the products were confirmed by IR, ¹Н and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and MALDI TOF mass spectrometry.     

Electronic spectra and transitions of the fullerene C60

Absorption spectra of C₆₀ have been measured in the ranges (a) 190–700 nm in n-hexane solutions at 300 K, (b) 390–700 nm in n-hexane and in 3-methylpentane solutions at 77 K. 40 vibronic bands were observed. They exhibit a large range of bandwidths and intensities, whose significance is discussed. Assignment of electronic transitions has been carried out using the results of theoretical calculations. Vibronic structures have been analyzed within the framework of theories of electronic transitions of polyatomic molecules applied to the I_h symmetry group. Nine allowed ¹T_1u−¹A_g transitions have been assigned in the 190–410 nm region. Observed and calculated allowed transition energies and oscillator strengths are compared. Detailed vibronic analyses of the 1 ¹T_1u−1 ¹A_g and 2 ¹T_1u−1 ¹A_g transitions illustrate the role of Jahn-Teller couplings. Orbitally forbidden singlet-singlet transitions are observed between 410 and 620 nm. Their vibronic structures were analyzed in terms of concurrent Herzberg-Teller and Jahn-Teller vibronic interactions. The 77 K spectra provided useful information on hot bands and on other aspects of the analyses. Vibronic bands belonging to triplet←singlet transitions were detected between 620 and 700 nm.     

Fe改性对Ru/Al_2O_3催化剂的马来酸二甲酯加氢性能影响

以Al2O3为载体,采用吸附-沉淀法制备一系列Ru-Fe/Al2O3催化剂,并进行了H2-TPR、XRD及XPS表征。以马来酸二甲酯(DMM)催化加氢合成丁二酸二甲酯(DMS)为探针反应,考察了Fe的加入对Ru/Al2O3催化性能的影响。评价结果表明,当Fe/Ru原子比小于2时,催化剂活性变化不大;但Fe/Ru原子比大于或等于2时,催化剂活性明显增加;与Ru/Al2O3催化剂相比,Fe的加入改善了催化剂的高温氧化还原处理稳定性。以甲醇为溶剂,在70℃、1.0 MPa压力、600 r/min转速下,Ru-Fe/Al2O3催化DMM的转化率与生成DMS的选择性均接近100%。XPS和H2-TPR表征结果表明,Ru-Fe/Al2O3中Fe与Ru产生较强的相互作用,促进Ru的分散且调变了Ru的电子特性。     

DFT studies on endohedral fullerene C@C60: C centers the C60 cage

Structural and electronic properties of C@C₆₀ were studied via Hartree–Fock self-consistent field (SCF) and density functional B3LYP levels of theory with the STO-3G, 6-31G(d) and 6-31G(d, p) basis sets. Both singlet and triplet were considered. The triplet structure with C on the center of the C₆₀ cage was proved to be global minimum on the C@C₆₀ molecular potential energy surface. The calculated HOMO-LUMO gaps as well as the electron affinity (EA) and the ionization potential (IP) were also presented as an indicator of the kinetic stability.     

Donor–acceptor interaction of fullerene C60 with triptycene in molecular complex TPC·C60

A molecular complex of fullerene C₆₀ with triptycene, TPC·C₆₀ is obtained. The complex has a three-dimensional packing of C₆₀ molecules. According to the IR spectra, the freezing of free rotation of C₆₀ molecules in the complex is maintained up to 360 K. The XP-spectra of TPC·C₆₀ show the suppression of π–π^* transitions of TPC phenylene rings. The separation of C₆₀ molecules by TPC ones in TPC·C₆₀ results in low intensity of the C₆₀ transitions in the 420–500 nm range in an optical spectrum. This absorption is assumed as that attributed to intermolecular transitions between adjacent C₆₀ molecules.     

High-temperature and photochemical syntheses of C60 and C70 fullerene derivatives with linear perfluoroalkyl chains

New experimental results on perfluoroalkylation of C₆₀ and C₇₀ with the use of R_fI (R_f = CF₃, C₂F₅, n-C₃F₇, n-C₄F₉, and n-C₆F₁₃), along with a critical overview of the existing synthetic methods, are presented. For the selected new fullerene (R_f)_n compounds we report spectroscopic, electrochemical and structural data, including improved crystallographic data for the isomers of C₇₀(C₂F₅)₁₀ and C₆₀(C₂F₅)₁₀, and the first X-ray structural data for the dodecasubstituted perfluoethylated C₇₀ fullerene, C₇₀(C₂F₅)₁₂, which possesses unprecedented addition pattern.     

Complex formation between water-soluble sulfonated calixarenes and C60 fullerene

The inclusion complexes of sulfonated thiacalix[4]arene 1 and calix[6]arene 2 sodium salts with C₆₀ fullerene were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and quantum-chemical methods. The stoichiometries of calixarene/C₆₀ complexes were found to be 2:1 for 1 and 1:1 for 2. Related quantum-chemical investigations show that C₆₀ fullerene is included in a cavity composed of two half-bowl molecules of 1. The C₆₀ fullerene ball is located deep within the cavity of 2 and the negatively charged sulfonate arms probably inhibit the formation of the bowl-shaped capsule that was observed in the case of 1.     

The hydrogenolysis of C60 and C70

Temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) of C₆₀ and C₇₀ with H₂ was carried out on nickel in order to investigate the thermal stability of the fullerenes in the catalytic hydrogenation. The TPR profiles showed two methanation peaks and the corresponding weight decrease above 420°C, indicating the hydrogenolysis to CH₄. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Selective adsorption from methanol/water mixtures by C60 fullerene nanospheres

Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the selective adsorption of methanol/water mixtures on the surface of [60] fullerene nanospheres. C₆₀ molecules were dispersed in methanol/water mixtures with different methanol molar fractions ranging between 1 and 0.5. The Raman active pentagon pinch mode shifted significantly (±4 cm⁻¹) as the mixture composition was changed. The shift in the Raman mode was sinusoidal in nature indicating that methanol then water is adsorbed preferentially on the fullerene surface at different mixture compositions. The observed behavior is attributed to structure forming effects of alcohol/water mixtures and the shape and size effect of fullerene surface.     

Radical scavenging efficiency of different fullerenes C60-C70 and fullerene soot

This investigation was undertaken to determine the antioxidant activity of a range of fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ in order to rank them according to their comparative efficiency. The model reaction of initiated (2,2′- azobisisobutyronitrile, AIBN) cumene oxidation was used to determine rate constants for addition of radicals to fullerenes. Measurements of oxidation rates in the presence of different fullerenes showed that the antioxidant activity as well as the mechanism and mode of inhibition were different for fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ and fullerene soot. All fullerenes - C₆₀ of gold grade, C₆₀/C₇₀ (93/7, mix 1), C₆₀/C₇₀ (80 ± 5/20 ± 5, mix 2) and C₇₀ operated as alkyl radical acceptora, whereas fullerene soot surprisingly retarded the model reaction by a dual mode similar to that for the fullerenes and with an induction period like many of the sterically hindered phenolic and amine antioxidants. For the C₆₀ and C₇₀ the oxidation rates were found to depend linearly on the reciprocal square root of the concentration over a sufficiently wide range thereby fitting the mechanism for the addition of cumylalkyl radicals to the fullerene core. This is consistent with literature data on the more ready and rapid addition of alkyl and alkoxy radicals to the fullerenes compared with peroxy radicals. Rate constants for the addition of cumyl radicals to the fullerenes were determined to be k_(333K) = (1.9 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ (C₆₀); (2.3 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ (C₆₀/C₇₀, mix 1); (2.7 ± 0.2) × 10⁸ (C₆₀/C₇₀, mix 2); (3.0 ± 0.3) × 10⁸ (C₇₀), M⁻¹ s⁻¹. The increasing C₇₀ constituent in the fullerenes leads to a corresponding increase in the rate constant.The fullerene soot inhibits the model reaction according to the mechanism of trapping of peroxy radicals; the oxidation proceeds with a pronounced induction period and kinetic curves are linear in semi-logarithmic coordinates.For the first time the effective concentration of inhibiting centres and inhibition rate constants for the fullerene soot have been determined to be fn[C₆₀−soot] = (2.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁴ mol g⁻¹ and k_inh = (6.5 ± 1.5) × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ respectively.The kinetic data obtained specify the level of antioxidant activity for the commercial fullerenes and scope for their rational use in different composites. The results may be helpful for designing an optimal profile of composites containing fullerenes.     

Comment on nuclear spin weights of C60 and C60 buckminsterfullerene

The nuclear spin statistical weights obtained in a Letter by Harter and Reimer differ from the values obtained by the author a year earlier. However, the corrected numbers reported in the Erratum by Harter and Reimer agree with our values.     

Electronic structure of the complexes of fullerene C60 with polyaromatic molecules

Electronic structure of the complexes of fullerene C₆₀ with triphenylene (TP) and 9,10-diphenylantracene (DPA) has been studied by an X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy. The C Kα spectrum of a complex was shown to be almost an additive sum of the C Kα spectra measured for fullerene and organic ligand. The quantum-chemical calculation of a DPA·C₆₀ structural unit using density functional theory (DFT) revealed a slight charge transfer from DPA molecule to the C₆₀ cage. The intermolecular interaction in the complex was found to proceed through quit energy deep molecular orbitals.     

Co-aggregation of fullerene C60 and thiophene in the non-aromatic solvent cyclohexene

Co-aggregation of fullerene C₆₀ and thiophene has been studied calorimetrically in cyclohexene at 25 °C. The total aggregation heat is found to depend on initial concentration of thiophene and fall between −1.9 and −5.8 kJ mol⁻¹. The corresponding thiophene/fullerene molar ratio (“co-aggregation number”) ranges from 7 to 12. The data are rationalized by formation of heteromolecular nanoaggregates with intermolecular contacts of both fullerene–thiophene and fullerene–fullerene types. A physical model describing interaction between fullerenes and π-donors in solution is substantiated and used to explain heterogeneity of composites containing fullerenes.     

Selective formation of C60F18(g) and C60F36(g) by reaction of [60]fullerene with molecular fluorine

Fluorination of C₆₀(s), C₆₀(s)-MnF₂(s), C₆₀(s)-NiF₂(s) and C₆₀(s)-MnF₃(s) mixtures has been studied by Knudsen cell mass spectrometry with admission of molecular fluorine. The fluorination is selective when fullerene reacts with the fluorine chemisorbed on the MnF₂ surface. When the MnF₂ content in the initial mixture is at least 90 mol% both C₆₀F₁₈ and C₆₀F₃₆ are selectively formed. Under certain conditions, mixtures predominantly containing one of three compounds C₆₀F₃₈, C₆₀F₄₀, and C₆₀F₄₂ can be obtained. A consecutive change of the main fluorination products (C₆₀F₁₈ and C₆₀F₃₆) takes place at constant temperature (720 K) and on fluorine admission. A quantitative explanation of this fact is given. Selective fluorination of C₆₀(s) by molecular fluorine is compared with solid-phase fluorination using MnF₃(s) as a fluorinating agent.     

Stereochemical patterns in bromofullerenes C60Br2 to C60Br12

The stabilities of different isomers of C₆₀Br_n have been calculated for n = 2 to 12. A general stereochemical pattern which emerges is the tendency to form strings created by the edge sharing of C₆Br₂ hexagonal faces. Stable structures are formed if these strings form loops, thereby eliminating string ends, which may involve the creation of C₆Br₃ hexagonal faces. A particularly stable structure is formed at C₆₀Br₆ in which the loop forms a C₁₀Br₆ fragment with a pentagonal pyramidal arrangement of six bromine atoms. Two isomers of C₆₀Br₁₂ are also particularly stable. One isomer contains two of these Br₆ pentagonal pyramids on opposite sides of the molecule, and the other isomer contains a single large loop wrapped around the middle of the molecule.     

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of mycoepoxydiene

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation with hydrogenolysis of mycoepoxydiene (1) by ammonium formate/10% Pd-C gave a new compound, deacetylhexahydromycoepoxydiene (2), whose structure was determined by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction experiments. In the primary bioassay, 1, 2 and hexahydromycoepoxydiene (3) showed anticancer activities against HeLa in vitro. The IC₅₀ (μg/mL) values were 5.5, 50, and >100, respectively. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 331–332, July–August, 2006.