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.     

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.     

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.     

Analysis of C60 and C70 fullerenes using high-performance liquid chromatography–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The performance of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) detection coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes was investigated. The isocratic separation method involved an octadecylsilane (ODS) column and an acetonitrile–toluene (1:1) mobile phase. The hyphenated system was designed with a split valve to control eluent volume leading to the FT-IR detector; this allowed for additional coupling of the liquid chromatograph to ultraviolet–visible detection. On-line FT-IR spectra of C₆₀ and C₇₀ were matched with standard off-line FT-IR spectra from the literature. In addition, with band chromatograms individual fullerenes can be identified using FT-IR active modes known specifically for each fullerene. Few changes to a pre-existing HPLC–UV method were necessary for the HPLC–FT-IR method, and there was no need for fraction collection to identify the fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀.     

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.     

Surface-enhanced vibrational Raman spectroscopy of C60 and C70 on rough silver surfaces

The observation of the surface-enhanced vibrational Raman spectra of vapor-deposited C₆₀ and C₇₀ on rough silver films is reported. Both near-monolayer and multilayer films of pure C₆₀ and of C₆₀/C₇₀ mixtures are studied. The films are obtained by evaporating fullerene samples at temperatures of 683–875 K in ultra-high vacuum. Mixed fullerene samples were greatly enriched in C₇₀ by making use of the slightly different vapor pressures of the two major components at the low end of this temperature range. The spectra contain all the lines of the normal Raman spectra as well as several additional lines caused by a reduction in the stringency of the normal Raman selection rules. These results demonstrate the potential of this technique for detecting small quantities of fullerenes and obtaining their vibrational spectra.     

Enantioanalysis of R-deprenyl based on its molecular interaction with C70 fullerenes

Two enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on [5,6]fullerene-C₇₀ (1) and diethyl (1,2-methanofullerene C₇₀)-71-71-dicarboxylate (2) immobilized in carbon paste, were designed for the enantioanalysis of R-deprenyl. The electrodes exhibited near-Nernstian slopes: 57.90 (1) and 59.00 mV/decade of concentration (2), respectively with low limits of detection 5.9 × 10⁻¹¹ (1) and 9.6 × 10⁻¹¹ mol/L (2), respectively. The linear concentration ranges are between 10⁻¹⁰ and 10⁻⁴ mol/L (1) and between 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻⁴ mol/L (2), respectively. The different characteristics involved in the molecular interaction between R-deprenyl and C₇₀ fullerenes were explained, namely (i) the stability of each molecule and (ii) the explanation of the molecular mechanism of interaction, using restricted Hartree-Fock theory, 3-21G(*) RHF-basis set. Furthermore, two intermolecular forces of interactions confer the stability of the electrodes; electrostatic interaction and moderate hydrogen bond interaction. Stability and feasibility of all the generated structures involved in this analysis were supported by their respective fundamental frequencies and energy minima.R-deprenyl can be recovered with average recoveries higher than 99.10% (RSD < 0.03%) from synthetic mixtures between R- and S-deprenyl. The high selectivity and enantioselectivity made possible the enantioanalysis of R-deprenyl in its pharmaceutical formulations.     

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.     

Electrochemistry of perfluorinated fullerenes: the case of three isomers of C60F36

1-Naphthol has been used as an in situ fluorescent probe to characterize the surface physicochemical properties of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The fluorescence of 1-naphthol adsorbed on untreated CNFs originates from the ¹L_b state and its peaks are shifted by the polarity of the surrounding media, indicating that there is a relatively non-polar area on the CNF surface. 1-Naphthol interacting with oxidized sites on the surface of nitric acid-treated CNFs exhibited an ion-pair fluorescence. This shows that there are some functional groups, interacting with 1-naphthol, on the treated CNF surface. The surface physicochemical properties of the CNFs can be characterized by this fluorescent probe.     

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.     

Synthesis and molecular structures of heptafluoropropylated fullerenes: C70(n-C3F7)8, C70(n-C3F7)6O, and C70(C3F7)4

Ampoule reactions of C₇₀ with n- and i-C₃F₇I were carried out at 250-310 °C. Two step HPLC separations allowed the isolation of several C₇₀(n-C₃F₇)_4-8 and C₇₀(i-C₃F₇)₄ compounds. Crystal and molecular structures of C₇₀(n-C₃F₇)₈-V, C₇₀(n-C₃F₇)₆O, C₇₀(n-C₃F₇)₄, and three isomers of C₇₀(i-C₃F₇)₄ have been determined by X-ray crystallography using synchrotron radiation. Molecular structures of the new compounds were compared with the known examples and discussed in terms of addition patterns and relative energies of their formation.     

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.     

C60 and carbon: a postbuckminsterfullerene perspective

The discovery of the fullerenes and nanotubes has completely changed our perspective on various aspects of carbon chemistry and materials science in quite fundamental ways. The experiments, which uncovered C₆₀, occurred between 1985 and 1990 and there are lessons to be learned of various kinds over the way scientific advances occur and more importantly the way misconceptions can propagate. For instance much of our received wisdom over the behaviour of carbon, in particular graphite on a microscopic scale, was really quite ill-conceived and certainly misleading. Questions might be asked as to why it took almost till the end of the 20th century for the fact to be uncovered that the elegant C₆₀ molecule had been lurking in the dark shadows of soot chemistry all the time. After all, mass spectrometric techniques were sufficiently advanced for the discovery to have been made in the 1960’s—perhaps even earlier. Some of these issues are addressed here and the discussion gives an insight into the curiously unpredictable way fundamental scientific advances sometimes occur and also highlights the limitations of applied research in this case.     

Comparison studies of fullerenes C72, C74, C76 and C78 by tight-binding Monte Carlo and quantum chemical methods

From C₇₂ to C₇₈, the top 20 low-energy isomers screened out from all isomers of each fullerene are optimized and computed by tight-binding Monte Carlo (TBMC), semi-empirical PM3, and ab initio B3LYP/6-31G*//HF/3-21G methods. The comparison results show that the TBMC method can efficiently optimize the structures and correctly predicate the low energy isomers. The relative energies computed by TBMC are in good agreement with the high-lever B3LYP calculation results. Our TBMC and B3LYP results show that the most energetically favorable structure of C₇₂ is not an isomer satisfying the isolated pentagon rule (IPR), which is different with the result by PM3. The symmetry of the most stable IPR isomer tends to low as the fullerene becomes large and several non-isolated-pentagon structures are found to have low symmetries and low energies close to the most stable isomer.     

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.     

Effect of Fullerene C60 on Structuring of Toluene

Toluene solutions of fullerene C₆₀ with concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, and 0.2 wt % were studied by small-angle X-ray diffraction analysis. The radii of gyration of scattering elements were determined from the small-angle diffraction patterns plotted in the Guinier coordinates.__________Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, Vol. 78, No. 6, 2005, pp. 1047–1049.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ginzburg, Tuichiev, Tabarov, Lavrent’ev, Melenevskaya, A. Pozdnyakov, O. Pozdnyakov, Shepelevskii, Shibaev.     

Reaction of C60 with KMnF4 : Isolation and characterization of a new isomer of C60F8 and re-evaluation of the structures of C60F7(CF3) and the known isomer of C60F8

The volatile fluorofullerene products of high-temperature reactions of C₆₀ with the ternary manganese(III, IV) fluorides KMnF₄, KMnF₅, A₂MnF₆ (A⁺ = Li⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺), and K₃MnF₆ were monitored as a function of reaction temperature, reaction time, and stoichiometric ratio by in situ Knudsen-cell mass spectrometry. When combined with fluorofullerene product ratios from larger-scale (bulk) screening reactions with the same reagents, an optimized set of conditions was found that yielded the greatest amount of C₆₀F₈ (KMnF₄/C₆₀ mol ratio 28-30, 470 °C, 4-5 h). Two isomers of C₆₀F₈ were purified by HPLC, one of which has not been previously reported. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level combined with 1D and 2D ¹⁹F NMR, FTIR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy indicate that the C₆₀F₈ isomer previously reported to be 1,2,3,8,9,12,15,16-C₆₀F₈ is actually 1,2,3,6,9,12,15,18-C₆₀F₈, making it the first high-temperature fluorofullerene with non-contiguous fluorine atoms. The new isomer, which was found to be 1,2,7,8,9,12,13,14-C₆₀F₈, is predicted to be 5.5 kJ mol⁻¹ more stable than 1,2,3,6,9,12,15,18-C₆₀F₈ at the DFT level. In addition, new DFT calculations and spectroscopic data indicate that the compound previously isolated from the high-temperature reaction of C₆₀ and K₂PtF₆ and reported to be 16-CF₃-1,2,3,8,9,12,15-C₆₀F₇ is actually 18-CF₃-1,2,3,6,8,12,15-C₆₀F₇.     

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.     

Synthesis and molecular structures of heptafluoroisopropylated fullerenes: C60(i-C3F7)8, C60(i-C3F7)6, and C60(CF3)2(i-C3F7)2

One isomer of C₆₀(i-C₃F₇)₈, three isomers of C₆₀(i-C₃F₇)₆, and the first mixed perfluoroalkylated fullerene, C₆₀(CF₃)₂(i-C₃F₇)₂, have been isolated by HPLC from a mixture prepared by reaction of C₆₀ with heptafluoroisopropyl iodide in a glass ampoule at 260-290 °C. The molecular structures of the four new compounds have been determined by means of X-ray single crystal diffraction partially also by use of synchrotron radiation. Theoretical calculations at the DFT level of theory have been employed to rationalize the energetics of isomers and of C₆₀-R_f binding.