Exploration of Nano-Saturns: A Spectacular Sphere–Ring Supramolecular System

Saturn-like systems consisting of nanoscale rings and spheres are fascinating motifs in supramolecular chemistry. Several ring molecules are known to include spherical molecules at the center of the cavity via noncovalent attractive interactions. In this Minireview, we generalize the molecular design, the structural features, and the supramolecular chemistry of such “nano-Saturns”, which consist of monocyclic rings and fullerene spheres (mainly C₆₀), on the basis of previous experimental and theoretical studies. Ring molecules are classified into three types (loop, belt, and disk) according to their shapes and possible interactions. Whereas typical belt-shaped rings tend to form tight complexes due to the wide contact area via π–π interactions, flat disk-shaped rings generally form weak complexes due to the narrow contact area mainly via CH–π interactions. In spite of the small association energies, disk-shaped rings are attractive because such rings can mimic the planet Saturn precisely as exemplified by an anthracene cyclic hexamer–C₆₀ complex.     

A Tunable Cyclic Container: Guest‐Induced Conformational Switching,Efficient Guest Exchange,and Selective Isolation of C70 from a Fullerene Mixture

An adaptable cyclic porphyrin dimer with highly flexible linkers has been used as an artificial molecular container that can efficiently encapsulate various aromatic guests (TCNQ/C₆₀/C₇₀) through strong π–π interactions by adjusting its cavity size and conformation. The planar aromatic guest (TCNQ) can be easily and selectively exchanged with larger aromatic guests (C₆₀/C₇₀). During the guest‐exchange process, the two porphyrin rings switch their relative orientation according to the size and shape of the guests. This behavior of the cyclic container has been thoroughly investigated by using UV/Vis spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray crystal structure determination of the host–guest assemblies. The electrochemical and photophysical studies demonstrated the occurrence of photoinduced electron transfer from bisporphyrin to TCNQ/C₆₀/C₇₀ in the respective host–guest assemblies. The cyclic host can form complexes with C₆₀ and C₇₀ with association constants of (2.8±0.2)×10⁵ and (1.9±0.3)×10⁸ m ⁻¹, respectively; the latter value represents the highest binding affinity for C₇₀ reported so far for zinc(II) bisporphyrinic receptors. This high selectivity for the binding of C₇₀ versus C₆₀ allows the easy extraction and efficient isolation of C₇₀ from a C₆₀/C₇₀ fullerene mixture. Experimental evidence was substantiated by DFT calculations.     

Size‐ and Orientation‐Selective Encapsulation of C70 by Cycloparaphenylenes

The size‐ and orientation‐selective formation of the shortest‐possible C₇₀ peapod in solution and in the solid state by using the shortest structural unit of an “armchair” carbon nanotube (CNT), cycloparaphenylene (CPP), has been studied. [10]CPP and [11]CPP exothermically formed 1:1 complexes with C₇₀, thereby giving the resulting peapods. A van′t Hoff plot analysis revealed that the formation of these complexes in 1,2‐dichlorobenzene was mainly driven by entropy, whereas the theoretical calculations suggested that the formation of the complex in the gas phase was predominantly driven by enthalpy. C₇₀ was found to exist in two distinct orientations inside the CPP cavity, namely “lying” and “standing”, depending on the specific size of the CPP. The theoretical calculations and the X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the interactions between [10]CPP and the short axis of C₇₀ in its lying orientation were isotropic and similar to those observed between [10]CPP and C₆₀. However, the interactions between [11]CPP and C₇₀ in its standing orientation were anisotropic, thereby involving the radial deformation of [11]CPP into an ellipsoidal shape. This “induced fit” maximized the van der Waals interactions with the long axis of C₇₀. Theoretical calculations revealed that the deformation occurred readily with low energy loss, thus suggesting that CPPs are highly radially elastic molecules. These results also indicate that the same type of radial deformation should occur in CNT peapods that encapsulate anisotropic fullerenes.     

Electrochemical oxidation and reduction of rhodium and iridium complexes with fullerenes C60 and C70

The electrochemical behavior of rhodium and iridium complexes with fullerences C₆₀ and C₇₀ was studied by cyclic voltammetry in a THF—toluene mixture. The complexes were found to be capable of oxidation and reduction. It was demonstrated that thein situ generation of metallofullerene complexes in the electrochemical cell by the interaction of C₆₀ and C₇₀ with hydridocarbonylphosphine complexes of rhodium and iridium, HM(CO)(PPh₃)₃, is possible. The influence of structural factors and the action of CO₂ on changes in the redox properties of fullerene complexes was considered.     

Water-soluble fullerenes using solubilizing agents, and their applications

Host–guest and supramolecular chemistry can produce water-solubilization of fullerenes such as C₆₀, C₇₀, and C_60/70 derivatives by hydrophobic interactions, CH–π interactions, and/or π–π interactions. For materials and biomedical applications, these water-soluble host–fullerene complexes must have the following important properties: (i) high solubility, (ii) high stability, and (iii) functionalization of the host–fullerene complex. These objectives can be achieved by selection of appropriate host molecules, development of novel solubilizing methods, and synthesis of functionalized host molecules. This review describes the introduction of a variety of host molecules that can solubilize fullerenes in water. In addition, we describe applications of host–fullerene complexes, in particular using photoinduced energy- and electron-transfer processes in water.     

Etudes par spectroscopie dans l'ultra-violet et le visible, du fullerène C60 en solution dans le n-hexane ou adsorbé sur des solides diélectriques

Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy studies of the fullerene C₆₀ melted in n-hexane or adsorbed on dielectric solids. Experiments of spectroscopy have been carried out, between the far ultraviolet and the near infrared, with pure C₆₀ or containing endohedral complexes rare gas atom-C₆₀, melted in n-hexane, and also pure C₆₀ adsorbed on surfaces of solids.Several phenomena have been observed: 1. a charge transfer due to the influence of interactions between the molecules of C₆₀ and surfaces of solids, yielding new transitions observed in the far ultraviolet ; and interpreted as super excited states of Rydberg type; 1.1. red and blue shifts for some transitions of adsorbed C₆₀, interpreted on the basis of attractive, or turned repulsive, dispersion forces; 1.1.1. emission processes for several transitions of adsorbed C₆₀, explained on the basis of a resonant coupling between these transitions and modes of the surface plasmon induced by the collective excitations of the C₆₀ molecule; this kind of process might be drawn to the Faraday instability in acoustics.     

Do Docking Sites Persist Upon Fluorination? The Diadamantyl Ether-Aromatics Challenge for Rotational Spectroscopy and Theory

Fluorinated derivatives of biological molecules have proven to be highly efficient at modifying the biological activity of a given protein through changes in the stability and the kind of docking interactions. These interactions can be hindered or facilitated based on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of a particular protein region. Diadamantyl ether (C₂₀H₃₀O) possesses both kinds of docking sites, serving as a good template to model these important contacts with aromatic fluorinated counterparts. In this work, an experimental study on the structures of several complexes between diadamantyl ether and benzene as well as a series of fluorinated benzenes is reported to analyze the effect of H→F substitution on the interaction and structure of the resulting molecular clusters using rotational spectroscopy. All experimentally observed complexes are largely dominated by London dispersion interactions with the hydrogen-terminated surface areas of diadamantyl ether. Already single substitution of one hydrogen atom with fluorine changes the preferred docking site of the complexes. However, the overall contributions of the different intermolecular interactions are similar for the different complexes, contrary to previous studies focusing on the difference in interactions using fluorinated and non-fluorinated molecules.     

Fluorescent Bis-Calix[4]arene-Carbazole Conjugates: Synthesis and Inclusion Complexation Studies with Fullerenes C60 and C70

Supramolecular chemistry has become a central theme in chemical and biological sciences over the last decades. Supramolecular structures are being increasingly used in biomedical applications, particularly in devices requiring specific stimuli-responsiveness. Fullerenes, and supramolecular assemblies thereof, have gained great visibility in biomedical sciences and engineering. Sensitive and selective methods are required for the study of their inclusion in complexes in various application fields. With this in mind, two new fluorescent bis-calix[4]arene-carbazole conjugates (4 and 5) have been designed. Herein, their synthesis and ability to behave as specific hosts for fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ is described. The optical properties of the novel compounds and their complexes with C₆₀ and C₇₀ were thoroughly studied by UV-Vis and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. The association constants (K_a) for the complexation of C₆₀ and C₇₀ by 4 and 5 were determined by fluorescence techniques. A higher stability was found for the C₇₀@4 supramolecule (K_a = 5.6 × 10⁴ M⁻¹; ΔG = −6.48 kcal/mol). Evidence for the formation of true inclusion complexes between the host 4 and C₆₀/C₇₀ was obtained from NMR spectroscopy performed at low temperatures. The experimental findings were fully corroborated by density functional theory (DFT) models performed on the host–guest assemblies (C₆₀@4 and C₇₀@4).     

Molecular Complexes of Fullerenes C60 and C70 with Saturated Amines

New molecular complexes of fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ with leuco crystal violet (LCV, 1-3); leucomalachite green (LMG, 4-6); crystal violet lactone (CVL, 7); N,N,N′,N′-tetrabenzyl-p-phenylenediamine (TBPDA, 8, and 9); N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPDA, 10, and 11); triphenylamine (TPA, 12, and 13); and substituted phenotellurazines (EPTA and TMPTA, 14, and 15) have been synthesized. Crystal structures have been solved for C₆₀ complexes with LMG (5, 6) TBPDA (8), TMPDA (10), and TPA (12). The C₆₀ molecules form closely packed double layers in 5 and 6, hexagonal layers in 10 and quasi-three-dimensional layers in 8 and 12. The substitution of disordered solvent molecules in the complexes with LMG (4, 5) by naphthalene ones results in the ordering of the C₆₀ molecules. According to IR-, UV-visible-NIR and ESR-spectroscopy the complexes have a neutral ground state. The spectra of 1-8, and 10 show intense charge transfer bands in the visible and NIR-range. On photoexcitation by white light (light-induced ESR (LESR) spectroscopy), 1 and 10 were shown to have an excited ionic state. The LESR signals were generated at light energies <2.25 eV indicating that the excited states in the complexes are realized mainly by direct charge transfer from donor to the C₆₀ molecule.     

Photophysical Investigations on Determination of Ionicity and Electronic Structures for the Non-covalent Complexes of Calix[4]resorcinarene with Fullerenes C<Subscript>60</Subscript> and C<Subscript>70</Subscript> in the Solution State

Ground state non-covalent interactions between a macrocyclic receptor, C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarene (1) and fullerenes (C₆₀ and C₇₀) have been studied in benzonitrile by an absorption spectrophotometric method. Absorption bands are located in the visible region due to the charge transfer (CT) transition between 1 and various electron acceptors (including fullerenes), namely, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, tetracyanoquinodimethane and p-chloranil. Utilizing the CT absorption bands, various important physicochemical parameters, including oscillator strength, resonance energy, transition dipole strength of all the acceptor-1 complexes and vertical ionization potential of 1 are determined. Job’s method of continuous variation reveals 1:1 stoichiometry between fullerenes and 1. The most fascinating feature of the present study is that 1 binds selectively to C₇₀ compared to C₆₀ as obtained from binding constant (K) data of C₆₀-1 (K_C60-1K_{\mathrm{C}60\mbox{-}\mathbf{1}}) and C₇₀-1 (K_C70-1K_{\mathrm{C}70\mbox{-}\mathbf{1}}) complexes, i.e., K_C60-1=190K_{\mathrm{C}60\mbox{-}\mathbf{1}}=190 dm³⋅mol⁻¹ and K_C70-1=5,800K_{\mathrm{C}70\mbox{-}\mathbf{1}}=5{,}800 dm³⋅mol⁻¹ and selectivity (K_C70-1 /K_C60-1 ) ∼30. Quantum chemical calculations based on hybrid density functional theory estimate the enthalpies of formation of the fullerene-1 complexes in vacuo and provide very good support for selectivity in the K values of the C₇₀ and C₆₀ complexes of 1. The exchange and correlation energies have been calculated using a hybrid DFT functional method. We have opted to use the hybrid DFT functional over the Hartree-Fock method, as it can account for correlation effects also. Molecular electrostatic potential map calculations give a clear picture on the electronic structures of the fullerene-1 complexes.     

A Macrocycle Based on a Heptagon-Containing Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene

A cyclophane is reported incorporating two units of a heptagon-containing extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analogue of the hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) moiety (hept-HBC). This cyclophane represents a new class of macrocyclic structures that incorporate for the first time seven-membered rings within extended PAH frameworks. The saddle curvature of the hept-HBC macrocycle units induced by the presence of the nonhexagonal ring along with the flexible alkyl linkers generate a cavity with shape complementarity and appropriate size to enable π interactions with fullerenes. Therefore, the cyclophane forms host–guest complexes with C₆₀ and C₇₀ with estimated binding constants of K_a=420±2 m ⁻¹ and K_a=(6.49±0.23)×10³ m ⁻¹, respectively. As a result, the macrocycle can selectively bind C₇₀ in the presence of an excess of a mixture of C₆₀ and C₇₀.     

Interaction Between C60 Fullerene and Alkali Metals Demonstrating Superconductivity

A discret summation method [1] has been used to calculate the van der Waals dispersion interactions between an alkali metal atom and individual C₆₀ fullerene molecules, as well as between an intercalated alkali metal atom and the face-centred-cubic lattice of solid fullerite. It is known [2, 3] that the conductivities observed in the doped C₆₀ films vary considerably for different alkali atoms. Our interest was to investigate any correlation between these conductivities and the long range potential field behaviour. In the present study, we have obtained interaction potential curves of the C₆₀ fullerene molecule including within its cage, as well the potential field topography within the overall C₆₀ fullerite solid unit cell. We have found that for all intercalated alkali metals, except Cs, there are voids within the unit-cell of fullerite where the dopant experiences attractive interactions. Whereas on the other hand, inside the fullerene cage only Li and Na experience attractive forces. Importantly, it has been shown that the localization of the crystallographic sites [4] of doped alkali metals in fullerite coincide with the potential energy minima of long range van der Waals forces.     

Supramolecular Porphyrin‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks with Fullerenes: Crystal Structures and Preferential Intercalation of C70

The syntheses and characterization of two new porphyrin‐based metal–organic frameworks (P‐MOFs), through the complexation of 5,10,15,20‐tetra‐4‐pyridyl‐21 H,23 H‐porphine (H₂TPyP) and copper(II) acetate (CuAcO) in the presence of the fullerenes C₆₀ or C₇₀ are reported. Complex 1 was synthesized in conjunction with C₆₀, and this reaction produced a two‐dimensional (2D) porous structure with the composition CuAcO‐CuTPyP?m‐dichlorobenzene (m‐DCB), in which C₆₀ molecules were not intercalated. Complex 2 was synthesized in the presence of C₇₀, generating a three‐dimensional (3D) porous structure, in which C₇₀ was intercalated, with the composition CuAcO‐CuTPyP?C₇₀?m‐DCB?CHCl₃. The structures of these materials were determined by X‐ray diffraction to identify the supramolecular interactions that lead to 2D and 3D crystal packing motifs. When a combination of C₆₀ and C₇₀ was employed, C₇₀ was found to be preferentially intercalated between the porphyrins.     

Charge transfer in complexes of C60 and C70 in solutions and solid state

Electronic absorption spectra of complexes of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes with donors, tetrathiafulvalene and pyranylidene derivatives, were studied in solutions and in the solid state. Charge transfer bands were found in the 680–1300 nm range. The charge transfer energies (hv _ct) for the C₆₀ and C₇₀ complexes in solutions are close and almost independent of the solvent polarity. For the C₆₀ complexes in the solid state, the dependence ofhv _ct on the ionization potential (IP) of donors was found to behv _ct=0.82IP–3.93 eV. In the C₆₀ complexes in the solid state, thehv _ct values are 0.15–0.20 eV lower than those in the solution. The linear dependences ofhv _ct onIP of donors for the C₆₀ complexes lie 0.6–0.7 eV higher than those in the complexes with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). This is associated with lower values of the electron affinity of C₆₀ and the energy of the electrostatic interaction in the fullerene complexes as compared to those of the TCNE complexes. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 478–483, March, 1999.     

Photodynamic Activity of Fullerene Derivatives Solubilized in Water by Natural-Product-Based Solubilizing Agents

Water-soluble fullerenes prepared by using solubilizing agents based on natural products are promising photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Cyclodextrin, β-1,3-glucan, lysozyme, and liposomes can stably solubilize not only C₆₀ and C₇₀, but also some C₆₀ derivatives in water. To improve the solubilities of fullerenes, specific methods have been developed for each solubilizing agent. Water-soluble C₆₀ and C₇₀ exhibit photoinduced cytotoxicity under near-ultraviolet irradiation, but not at wavelengths over 600 nm, which are the appropriate wavelengths for photodynamic therapy. However, dyad complexes of solubilized C₆₀ derivatives combined with light-harvesting antenna molecules improve the photoinduced cytotoxicities at wavelengths over 600 nm. Furthermore, controlling the fullerene and antenna molecule positions within the solubilizing agents affects the performance of the photosensitizer.     

A Macrocycle Based on a Heptagon‐Containing Hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene

A cyclophane is reported incorporating two units of a heptagon‐containing extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analogue of the hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (HBC) moiety (hept‐HBC). This cyclophane represents a new class of macrocyclic structures that incorporate for the first time seven‐membered rings within extended PAH frameworks. The saddle curvature of the hept‐HBC macrocycle units induced by the presence of the nonhexagonal ring along with the flexible alkyl linkers generate a cavity with shape complementarity and appropriate size to enable π interactions with fullerenes. Therefore, the cyclophane forms host–guest complexes with C₆₀ and C₇₀ with estimated binding constants of K_a=420±2 m ^?1 and K_a=(6.49±0.23)×10³ m ^?1, respectively. As a result, the macrocycle can selectively bind C₇₀ in the presence of an excess of a mixture of C₆₀ and C₇₀.     

Buckycatcher polymer versus fullerene‐buckycatcher complex: Which is stronger?

The C₆₀H₂₈ buckycatcher (BC) is an excellent host for fullerenes. This receptor features two corannulene pincers which trap C₆₀/C₇₀ via π stacking interactions. Although, the formation of C₆₀@C₆₀H₂₈ complexes is readily observed, the dimerization of C₆₀H₂₈ is not a competitive process, even at high concentrations. By means of first principle calculations, we have studied the thermodynamics of the polymerization of BCs and the formation of fullerene complexes. The results obtained with the M06‐2X, B97‐D, B3LYP‐D3BJ, PBE‐D2, and PBE‐D3 functionals indicated that the interaction energy of (C₆₀H₂₈)₂ is larger than the one computed for C₆₀@C₆₀H₂₈, by 8–10 kcal/mol. Because of the greater number of atoms, and due to the presence of more hydrogens, the inclusion of free energy corrections lowers the energetic separation between (C₆₀H₂₈)₂ and C₆₀@C₆₀H₂₈, even though the dimer maintains its position as being slightly more bound than that of the C₆₀@C₆₀H₂₈. Our calculations indicated that up to the C₆₀H₂₈ trimer could be formed with a free energy change larger than that corresponding to the dimerization and fullerene complexation processes. Finally, we found that the inversion of the corannulene pincers attached to the cyclooctatetraene core is 2–3 kcal/mol lower than that corresponding to free corannulene. We expect that this work can motivate new investigations that may lead to the observation of C₆₀H₂₈ polymers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Studies on novel cyclodextrans: Inclusion of C60 and C70

Cycloisomalto-heptaose (CI-7) and cycloisomalto-octaose (CI-8) are two novel cyclodextrans. Treatment with C₆₀ or C₇₀ by kneading leads to the formation of four distinct water-soluble inclusion complexes: CI-7/C₆₀ (2: 1), CI-8/C₆₀ (2: 1), CI-7/C₇₀ (2: 1) and CI-8/C₇₀ (2: 1). Their formation and structures have been examined by UV vis spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and fluorescence spectral studies. The reaction is a reversible process.     

Electrochemical formation and properties of two-component films of transition metal complexes and C60 or C70

The electrochemically active polymers have been formed during electro-reduction carried out in solution containing fullerenes, C₆₀ or C₇₀, and transition metal complexes of Pd(II), Pt(II), Rh(III), and Ir(I). In these films, fullerene moieties are covalently bounded to transition metal atoms (Pd and Pt) or their complexes (Rh and Ir) to form a polymeric network. All films exhibit electrochemical activity at negative potentials due to the fullerene cages reduction process. For all studied metal complexes, yields of formation of films containing C₇₀ are higher than yields of electrodeposition of their C₆₀ analogs. C₇₀ /M films also exhibit higher porosity in comparison to C₆₀/M layers. The differences in film morphology and efficiency of polymer formation are responsible for differences in electrochemical responses of these films in acetonitrile containing supporting electrolyte only. C₇₀/M films shows more reversible voltammeric behavior in negative potential range. They also show higher potential range of electrochemical stability. Processes of film formation and electrochemical properties of polymers depend on the transition metal ions or atoms bonding fullerene cages into polymeric network. The highest efficiency of polymerization was observed for fullerene/Pd and fullerene/Rh films. In the case of fullerene/Pd films, the charge transfer processes related to the fullerene moieties reduction in negative potential range exhibit the best reversibility among all of the studied systems. Capacitance performances of C₆₀/Pd and C₇₀/Pd films deposited on the porous Au/quartz electrode were also compared. Capacitance properties of both films are significantly affected by the conditions of electropolymerization. Only a fraction of the film having a direct contact with solution contributes to pseudocapacitance. Capacitance properties of these films also depend on the size of cations of supporting electrolyte. The C₇₀/Pd film exhibits much better capacitance performance comparison to C₆₀/Pd polymer.     

IR-Fourier spectroscopic studies of structural changes in fullerenes C60 and C70-Toluene systems

The C₆₀-toluene and C₇₀-toluene complexes were studied by IR-Fourier spectroscopy. The complexes were obtained by crystallization from a toluene solution at room temperature. The changes in the IR spectra caused by the deformation of toluene molecules in the complexes allowed us to study the phase transitions in the fullerene-aromatic solvent systems.