Approaches to open fullerenes: synthesis and thermal stability of cis-1 bis(isobenzofuran) Diels-Alder adducts of C60

In a quest to form wider openings within the cage of the fullerene C60 through controlled bond-breaking reactions, we have examined the double saturation of adjacent C=C bonds within a six-membered ring of C60. We have investigated the double Diels-Alder cycloaddition of two tethered isobenzofurans to the fullerene C60. We obtained cis-1 adducts in good yields after reacting the methylene- or quinoxaline-tethered bis(isobenzofuran) precursors 2a-k with parent 3,6-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (3b). The X-ray structure of the methylene-tethered bis(isobenzofuran)-C60 adduct 4b has been obtained; four-eclipsed substituents are held rigidly by the bicyclic addends. The cis-1 bis(isobenzofuran) bisadducts 4b and 4e-j are kinetically far more stable toward thermal retro-Diels-Alder fragmentation than are mono(isobenzofuran) adducts of C60, in solution and in the solid state as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy or thermogravimetric analysis. A methodology for the reversible solubilization of other fullerene derivatives based on this work is also presented.     

A ready access to unprecedented N-anilinopyrazolino[60]fullerenes

A simple and efficient method for the preparation of new synthons based on versatile amino-functionalize pyrazoline[60]fullerene is described. These intermediates are useful in the preparation of new derivatives for applications in materials science. Finally, electrochemical studies of the newly prepared compounds have been performed in solvents with different polarities.     

Room temperature liquid fullerenes: an uncommon morphology of C60 derivatives

Room temperature liquid C60 derivatives bearing a 2,4,6-trialkyloxyphenyl branch show a dramatic decrease in viscosity with an increase in the length of the alkyl chains. This feature, when combined with electrochemical activities similar to those of pristine C60 and relatively high charge carrier mobility, makes them an extremely attractive novel carbon material for future applications in materials science.     

Approaches to open fullerenes: a 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexaadduct of C60

Complete saturation of a single six-membered ring on fullerene C60 has been achieved. The critical step in this first synthesis of a fully characterized 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexaadduct consisted of a remarkable double 5-exo-trig addition of alkoxyl radicals promoted by lead tetraacetate. Two possible opening pathways ([2 + 2 + 2] retrocycloadditions) for the newly synthesized compound were explored using quantum mechanical calculations. We found that the oxa bridges in the hexaadduct prevent ring opening through the retro[2 + 2 + 2] mechanism due to the high activation barrier and endothermicity of the reaction.     

Charge transfer collisions between fullerenes: C 60 3+ + C60

Charge transfer collisions between C ₆₀ ³⁺ and C₆₀ are studied for collision energies between 400 and 3600 eV. Single and double electron transfers are observed, both occuring under single collision conditions. Absolute charge transfer cross sections are determined as a function of collision energy. The cross section for single electron capture of approx. 300 Ų is about two times larger than that for double electron transfer. For both processes the cross section increases slightly with increasing collision energy.     

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).     

New approach for sensitive photothermal detection of C60 and C70 fullerenes on micro-thin-layer chromatographic plates

In this paper the pulse thermovision (photothermal) detection and quantification methods of C60 and C70 fullerenes are presented. Quantification results are compared with optical and fluorescence measurements. Target components were separated under isothermal conditions (30 °C) on micro-TLC plates (RP18WF₂₅₄S) using n-hexane as the mobile phase. The principle of described analytical protocol is based on sensitive measurement of the temperature contrast generated within TLC stationary phase and fullerenes spots after white light pulse excitation. It has been demonstrated that observed temperature contrast is mainly driven by the optical properties of fullerenes (UV–vis absorption spectra). Contrary to the commonly applied optical reflection or transmission techniques the proposed thermovision method involves dissipated light. The results of presented experimental work have revealed that both types of quantitative measurements provide similar outcome despite the key differences in the signal origin. However, it has been found that thermovision method was characterized by smaller value of LOD, particularly for C60 molecule. We demonstrated that application of correlation technique to post-acquisition analysis of the sequence of temperature contrast images significantly increase detection limits of fullerenes, even in comparison to fluorescence quenching detection mode. Moreover, the thermal contrast images and particularly, computed correlation image, allow detection of stationary phase layer nonuniformities, including changes in the adsorbent thickness and thermal conductivity. Therefore, invented pulsed thermovision methodology can be additionally used for fast quality screening of home made and commercially available TLC plates.     

Adsorption of C60 buckminster fullerenes on an 11-amino-1-undecene-covered Si(111) substrate

Buckminster fullerene C60 was used as a model to understand the attachment chemistry of large molecules on amine-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on semiconductor substrates. This type of interface serves as a prototype for future devices in such fields as solar energy conversion, biosensing, catalysis, and molecular electronics. Fullerene C60 was attached to 11-amino-1-undecene self-assembled monolayers on a Si(111) surface. The chemical state and topography of the C60-modified surface were characterized by surface analytical spectroscopic and microscopic methods and by computational investigation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the secondary amine group is formed between the C60 and the 11-amino-1-undecene SAM on the surface. The appearance of the pi-pi* C 1s shakeup peak confirmed the presence of C60 on the surface. Infrared spectroscopic studies verified several characteristic features of the C60 skeleton vibration and the 11-amino-1-undecene vibrational signature. The atomic force microscopy investigation suggested that the fullerene molecules produce surface features with an apparent height of approximately 2 nm and an average width of approximately 20 nm. A parallel study was performed on a Au(111) surface for comparison with the results obtained on the silicon substrate. The reaction between fullerene molecules and approximately 1% 11-amino-1-undecene diluted in decene SAM on the Si(111) surface accordingly yielded dilute and uniformly distributed C60 molecules on the surface, which indicated that the amine groups were the reactive sites.     

The electrochemical reduction of fullerenes, C60 and C70

The hexaanion of fullerene, C(60)(6-), was obtained in 1:5 (v/v) acetonitrile-toluene mixture with a mercury hemispherical ultramicroelectrode as a working electrode at a temperature of up to 30 degrees C. The C(70)(6-) ion also can be observed under the same conditions. The differences between the redox potentials of C(60) relative to C(70) indicate that it is easier to add electrons to C(70) and its anions compared to the counterparts of C(60). The results show that the mercury electrode is very suitable for investigation of the properties of the electrochemical reduction for the fullerenes, particularly C(60), at room temperature.     

Technology for manufacture of pure fullerenes C60, C70 and a concentrate of higher fullerenes

An integrated technology for manufacture of fullerenes was developed. It includes the following stages: synthesis of a fullerene black, extraction of a mixture of fullerenes from the black, preliminary separation of the mixture into concentrates enriched in C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes, and production of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes of purity exceeding 99.5 and 98.0 wt %, respectively, from the concentrates.     

Electrochemical behavior of fullerene C60 and substituted fullerenes immobilized on an electrode surface

The effect of substituents with different donor capabilities, which are inserted into a molecule of fullerene C₆₀, on the kinetics and thermodynamics of redox conversions of fullerenes that are immobilized on an electrode, is studied for the first time. To this end, redox conversions that occur with rubbed-on films of fullerene and fulleropyrrolidines are studied using cyclic voltammetry in 0.5 M KCl/H₂O and a 0.1 M (C₄H₉)₄NBF₄/AN solution in acetonitrile. A hypothesis that the kinetics of redox conversions occurring with films of individual fullerenes is defined largely by changes in the structure of initial films in the process of their cathodic doping is used. The effect of the substituents is explained in the framework of this hypothesis by a transition from a dense crystalline structure of nonsubstituted fullerene C₆₀ to an amorphous structure of substituted fullerenes. It is demonstrated that the formal potentials corresponding to redox conversions of fullerenes in a solid cationic lipid matrix are defined by the energy of interaction of anions, which are products of reduction of fullerenes, with cations of the matrix. As a result of this interaction, the formal potentials of the process of cathodic doping shift to less negative values. It is established that the insertion of a donor substituent and increase in its donor capability amplify the energy of interaction of the fullerene anions with the lipid cations.     

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.     

A C78 fullerene precursor: toward the direct synthesis of higher fullerenes

A C78 fullerene related structure (of C78:1 and C78:4, the last undiscovered C78 IPR isomer) has been synthesized and investigated as a pyrolytic precursor. The pyrolysis of precursor containing all 78 carbon atoms in the required positions and 93 of the 117 C-C bonds, needed for fullerene formation, showed selectivity for C78 fullerene formation. In independent experiments it has been shown that the flash pyrolysis of C78 fullerene is not affected by Stone-Wales rearrangement and loss of C2 fragments and, thus, is very promising for the synthesis of individual isomers of higher fullerenes.     

Ionization and excitation of C60, C70, and C80 fullerenes

Good agreement of E_SCF results for the ionization potentials with the corresponding one-electron levels in C₆₀, C₇₀, and C₈₀ fullerenes, as well as with generalizations of the Koopmans theorem to cases considering various one-electron transitions in ions, was observed. Both are in good agreement with the available experimental data. An explanation is given both for the agreement and for the existing deviations, according to which the dispersions of the results for the ionization potentials obtained in a number of studies of the Koopmans theorem should be ascribed to differences in the parametrization and methods of construction of the semiempirical Fockian for acceptable methods of calculation.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 501–513, November–December, 1993.     

Nucleophilic substitution of alkylchlorodihydro[60]fullerenes: thermodynamic stabilities of alkylated C60 cation intermediates

Thermodynamic stabilities of alkylated C60 cations (RC60+) were determined based on the activation free energies of SN1 solvolysis of the title compounds, indicating that these cations have stabilities comparable to that of the tert-butyl cation.     

Stability of small fullerenes C n (n=36,40 and 60): A topological and molecular orbital approach

Summary By semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations stability of fullerenes was analyzed in terms of topological parameters, such as the number of special fragments and the number of three types of abutting bonds between two 5-membered rings. Relative stability was compared by AM1 method for all spectrally distinct closed-shell isomers of C₃₆ and C₄₀ fullerenes, and for some closed-shell isomers of C₆₀ fullerene. Molecular geometries of these fullerenes were also optimized. Their relative stabilities were well explained by the instability of abutting bonds.     

Reactions of excited fullerenes C60 and C70 studied by mass spectrometry

The transformation of the mass spectra of the laser-desorbed C₆₀ and C₇₀ samples with a successive increase in the laser power, resulting in an increase in the degree of excitation of C₆₀ (C₇₀) and in the number of the particles in the laser plume, was studied. Unusual metastable clusters (C₆₀ + C₂) and (C₇₀ + C₂) are formed even at a minimum laser power and begin to dissociate after 0.5 s following a short (3 ns) laser pulse. An increase in the laser power results in the appearance of peaks of metastable clusters C₆₂ (C₇₂) with the statistically normal lifetime without a delay of dissociation. A further increase in the laser power produces metastable clusters C_60k–2n and C_70k–2n (k = 2, 3) formed without a lag from the dimers and trimers of C₆₀ (C₇₀) by the ejection of a number of C₂ required for the stabilization of the C₂ molecules. The peak of C₇₀ appears simultaneously with the appearance of the (C₆₀)_2–2n peaks upon the laser desorption of pure C₆₀. These findings provide evidence for the growth of the excited fullerene clusters by coalescence and subsequent stabilization due to the ejection of a small fragment rather than by the implantation of C₂ into the fullerene framework. This mechanism of cluster growth should be taken into consideration in modeling fullerene formation in an electric arc reactor, because the clusters formed under these conditions have a substantial excess internal energy.     

Structure and electronic properties of highly charged C60 and C58 fullerenes

We present a theoretical study of the structure and electronic properties of positively charged C60(q+) and C58(q+) fullerenes (q = 0-14). Electronic energies and optimum geometries have been obtained using density-functional theory with the B3LYP functional for exchange and correlation. We have found that closed- and semiclosed-shell C60(q+) ions (q = 0, 5, and 10) preserve the original icosahedral symmetry of neutral C60. For other charges, significant distortions have been obtained. The C58(q+) fullerenes are, in general, less symmetric, being C58(8+) the closest to the spherical shape. Most C60(q+) fullerenes follow Hund's rule for spin multiplicity, while most C58(q+) fullerenes are more stable with the lowest spin multiplicity. The calculated ionization potentials for both kinds of fullerenes increase almost linearly with charge, except in the vicinity of C60(10+) and C58(8+). We have also explored the region of the potential-energy surface of C60(q+) that leads to asymmetric fission. Minima and transition states corresponding to the last steps of the fission process have been obtained. This has led us to conclude that, for 3 < or = q < or = 8, C2(+) emission is the preferred fragmentation channel, whereas, for higher q values, emission of two charged atomic fragments is more favorable. The corresponding fission barrier vanishes for q > 14.