Chlorination‐promoted Transformation of Isolated Pentagon Rule C78 into Fused‐pentagons‐ and Heptagons‐containing Fullerenes

Cage transformations in fullerenes are rare phenomena which are still not fully understood. We report the first skeletal transformation of an Isolated‐Pentagon‐Rule (IPR) isomer of C₇₈ fullerene upon high‐temperature chlorination which proceeds by six‐step Stone–Wales rearrangements affording non‐IPR, non‐classical (NC ) C₇₈(NC 2)Cl₂₄ with two cage heptagons, six pairs of fused pentagons, and an unprecedented loop‐like chlorination pattern. The following loss of a C₂ unit results in C₇₆(NC 3)Cl₂₄ containing three cage heptagons.     

Photoinduced Electron Transfer between N,N, Nr,N' ‐Tetra‐(p‐methylphenyl)‐4, 4‐diamino‐1, 1'‐diphenyl Ether (TPDAE) and Fullerenes (C60/C70) by Laser Flash Photolysis

The photoinduced electron‐transfer reaction of N, N, N', N'‐tetra‐(p‐methylphenyl)‐4,4'‐diamino‐1,1'‐diphenyl ether (TPDAE) and fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) by nanosecond laser flash photolysis occurred in benzonitrile. Transient absorption spectral measurements were carried out during 532 nm laser flash photolysis of a mixture of the fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) and TPDAE. The electron transfer from the TPDAE to excited triplet state of the fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) quantum yields and rate constants of electron transfer from TPDAE to excited triplet state of fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) in benzonitrile have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the near‐IR region where the excited triplet state, radical anion of fullerenes (C₆₀/C₇₀) and radical cations of TPDAE are expected to appear.     

Separation and identification of fullerenes by liquid chromatography

Summary The separation of fullerenes with a monomeric octadecylsilica bonded phase using n-hexane or toluene/methanol mobile phase systems is described. Analytical and preparative separations, incorporating on-line UV/VIS spectral measurements, confirmed the existence of large fullerenes such as C₇₆, C₇₈ and C₈₄. However, isomers of C₇₈ and C₈₄ were not conclusively found.     

Synthesis,Isolation, and Trifluoromethylation of Two Isomers of C84‐Based Monometallic Cyanide Clusterfullerenes: Interplay between the Endohedral Cluster and the Exohedral Addends

As an emerging member of endohedral fullerenes, metal cyanide clusterfullerenes (CYCF) are unique in terms of the encapsulation of a monometallic cluster. To date the reported carbon cages of CYCFs are limited to C₈₂ and C₇₆, and little is known about the chemical reactivity of CYCFs. Herein, two isomers of the first C₈₄‐based CYCFs, YCN@C₈₄, were isolated as trifluoromethyl derivatives, including YCN@C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₈ and three isomers of YCN@C₈₄(13)(CF₃)₁₆, which are based on a unique chiral C ₂‐C₈₄(13) cage. As a common feature of the CF₃ addition patterns, the YCN@C₈₄(CF₃)_16/18 compounds are stabilized by the formation of isolated C=C bonds and benzenoid rings on the carbon cages. The interplay between the endohedral YCN cluster and the exhohedral CF₃ addends was unveiled according to single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies, thus offering new insight into the chemical reactivity of CYCFs.     

Synthesis,Isolation, and Trifluoromethylation of Two Isomers of C84‐Based Monometallic Cyanide Clusterfullerenes: Interplay between the Endohedral Cluster and the Exohedral Addends

As an emerging member of endohedral fullerenes, metal cyanide clusterfullerenes (CYCF) are unique in terms of the encapsulation of a monometallic cluster. To date the reported carbon cages of CYCFs are limited to C₈₂ and C₇₆, and little is known about the chemical reactivity of CYCFs. Herein, two isomers of the first C₈₄‐based CYCFs, YCN@C₈₄, were isolated as trifluoromethyl derivatives, including YCN@C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₈ and three isomers of YCN@C₈₄(13)(CF₃)₁₆, which are based on a unique chiral C ₂‐C₈₄(13) cage. As a common feature of the CF₃ addition patterns, the YCN@C₈₄(CF₃)_16/18 compounds are stabilized by the formation of isolated C=C bonds and benzenoid rings on the carbon cages. The interplay between the endohedral YCN cluster and the exhohedral CF₃ addends was unveiled according to single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies, thus offering new insight into the chemical reactivity of CYCFs.     

Synthesis and Isolation of the Titanium–Scandium Endohedral Fullerenes—Sc2TiC@Ih‐C80, Sc2TiC@D5h‐C80 and Sc2TiC2@Ih‐C80: Metal Size Tuning of the TiIV/TiIII Redox Potentials

The formation of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) in an electric arc is reported for the mixed‐metal Sc–Ti system utilizing methane as a reactive gas. Comparison of these results with those from the Sc/CH₄ and Ti/CH₄ systems as well as syntheses without methane revealed a strong mutual influence of all key components on the product distribution. Whereas a methane atmosphere alone suppresses the formation of empty cage fullerenes, the Ti/CH₄ system forms mainly empty cage fullerenes. In contrast, the main fullerene products in the Sc/CH₄ system are Sc₄C₂@C₈₀ (the most abundant EMF from this synthesis), Sc₃C₂@C₈₀, isomers of Sc₂C₂@C₈₂, and the family Sc₂C_{2 n} (2 n=74, 76, 82, 86, 90, etc.), as well as Sc₃CH@C₈₀. The Sc–Ti/CH₄ system produces the mixed‐metal Sc₂TiC@C_{2 n} (2 n=68, 78, 80) and Sc₂TiC₂@C_{2 n} (2 n=80) clusterfullerene families. The molecular structures of the new, transition‐metal‐containing endohedral fullerenes, Sc₂TiC@I_h‐C₈₀, Sc₂TiC@D_5h‐C₈₀, and Sc₂TiC₂@I_h‐C₈₀, were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The structure of Sc₂TiC@I_h‐C₈₀ was also determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which demonstrated the presence of a short Ti=C double bond. Both Sc₂TiC‐ and Sc₂TiC₂‐containing clusterfullerenes have Ti‐localized LUMOs. Encapsulation of the redox‐active Ti ion inside the fullerene cage enables analysis of the cluster–cage strain in the endohedral fullerenes through electrochemical measurements.     

The Exohedral Diels–Alder Reactivity of the Titanium Carbide Endohedral Metallofullerene Ti2C2@D3h‐C78: Comparison with D3h‐C78 and M3N@D3h‐C78 (M=Sc and Y) Reactivity

The chemical functionalization of endohedral (metallo)fullerenes has become a main focus of research in the last few years. It has been found that the reactivity of endohedral (metallo)fullerenes may be quite different from that of the empty fullerenes. Encapsulated species have an enormous influence on the thermodynamics, kinetics, and regiochemistry of the exohedral addition reactions undergone by these species. A detailed understanding of the changes in chemical reactivity due to incarceration of atoms or clusters of atoms is essential to assist the synthesis of new functionalized endohedral fullerenes with specific properties. Herein, we report the study of the Diels–Alder cycloaddition between 1,3‐butadiene and all nonequivalent bonds of the Ti₂C₂@D_3h‐C₇₈ metallic carbide endohedral metallofullerene (EMF) at the BP86/TZP//BP86/DZP level of theory. The results obtained are compared with those found by some of us at the same level of theory for the D_3h‐C₇₈ free cage and the M₃N@D_3h‐C₇₈ (M=Sc and Y) metallic nitride EMFs. It is found that the free cage is more reactive than the Ti₂C₂@D_3h‐C₇₈ EMF and this, in turn, has a higher reactivity than M₃N@D_3h‐C₇₈. The results indicate that, for Ti₂C₂@D_3h‐C₇₈, the corannulene‐type [5, 6] bonds c and f , and the type B [6, 6] bond 3 are those thermodynamically and kinetically preferred. In contrast, the D_3h‐C₇₈ free cage has a preference for addition to the [6, 6] 1 and 6 bonds and the [5, 6] b bond, whereas M₃N@D_3h‐C₇₈ favors additions to the [6, 6] 6 (M=Sc) and [5, 6] d (M=Y) bonds. The reasons for the regioselectivity found in Ti₂C₂@D_3h‐C₇₈ are discussed.     

Chlorination‐Promoted Skeletal‐Cage Transformations of C88 Fullerene by C2 Losses and a CC Bond Rotation

High‐temperature chlorination of fullerene C₈₈ (isomer 33) with VCl₄ gives rise to skeletal transformations affording several nonclassical (NC) fullerene chlorides, C₈₆(NC1)Cl_24/26 and C₈₄(NC2)Cl₂₆, with one and two heptagons, respectively, in the carbon cages. The branched skeletal transformation including C₂ losses as well as a Stone–Wales rearrangement has been comprehensively characterized by the structure determination of two intermediates and three final chlorination products. Quantum‐chemical calculations demonstrate that the average energy of the C?Cl bond is significantly increased in chlorides of nonclassical fullerenes with a large number of chlorinated sites of pentagon–pentagon adjacency.     

Transient Absorption Spectral characterization of Electron Transfer between Fullerenes（C60／C70）and N,N,N’，N’—Tetra（p—methylphenyl）—4,4’—diamino—1,1’—diphenyl Sulphide（TPDAS）

In search of new systems with a photoexcited redox pair which exhibits a strong and stable photoinduced absorption band to understand the photophyscial and photochemical properties of electron transfer between fullernes (C60/C70) and organic donor[N,N,N’，N’-tetra(p-methylphenyl)-4,4’-diamino-1,1’-diphenyl sulphide(TPDAS)],we studied characteristic absorption spectra in the near-IR region obtained from 532nm nanosecond laser flash photolysis of a mixture of the fullerenes (C60/C70) and TPDAS in polar solvents.When fullerenes (C60/C70)were photoexcithed,the rise of the radical anion of fullerenes (C60/C70)with the rapid decay of their excited triplet states were observed in benzonitrile.It can be deduced that the electron transfer reaction does take place from TPDAS to excithed triplet state of rullerens(C60/C70).The rate consants(ket)and quantum yiekls(φet) of this process have been also evaluated.     

Synthesis,Isolation and Structures of Trifluoromethylated Fullerenes D2‐C76, C76(1)(CF3)10–18

High‐temperature trifluoromethylation of fullerene C₇₆ chlorination products followed by HPLC separation of C₇₆(CF₃)_n derivatives resulted in the isolation and X‐ray structural characterization of thirteen C₇₆(1)(CF₃)_n compounds including nine new isomers such as one isomer of C₇₆(1)(CF₃)₁₀, two C₇₆(1)(CF₃)₁₂, three C₇₆(1)(CF₃)₁₄, one C₇₆(1)(CF₃)₁₆, and two isomers of C₇₆(1)(CF₃)₁₈. Depending on their addition patterns, C₇₆(1)(CF₃)_n isomers are divided into three subgroups and discussed in terms of trifluoromethylation pathways and relative formation energies.     

Synthesis,Isolation and Structure of Trifluoromethylated Fullerene D3‐C78, C78(1)(CF3)10−18

High‐temperature trifluoromethylation of fullerene C₇₈ followed by HPLC separation of C₇₈(CF₃)_n derivatives resulted in the isolation and X‐ray structural characterization of 15 compounds, that is, two C₇₈(1)(CF₃)₁₀, three C₇₈(1)(CF₃)₁₂, four C₇₈(1)(CF₃)₁₄, and five C₇₈(1)(CF₃)₁₆ isomers as well as one isomer of C₇₈(1)(CF₃)₁₈. The addition patterns of the C₇₈(1)(CF₃)_n molecules are discussed in terms of trifluoromethylation pathways and relative formation energies.     

6,7‐Bismethoxy‐2,11‐dihydroxytetraphenylene Derived Macrocycles: Synthesis,Structures, and Complexation with Fullerenes

6,7‐Bismethoxy‐2,11‐dihydroxytetraphenylene ( 1 ), a novel building block of tetraphenylene‐derived macrocycles, was synthesized via palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions and characterized by X‐ray diffraction. The relevant macrocyclic hosts derived from 1 have well‐defined structures with fixed conformations both in solution and solid state. They showed efficient and unique properties toward complexation with fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ in toluene.     

“Sock-Ball” Chromatographic Separation of High Molecular Weight Fullerenes with Sock-Shaped Stationary Phase

A method for “Sock-Bail” chromatographic separation of high molecular weight fullerenes is described. A prepared sock-shaped stationary phase (Sock-SAF-phase) was used for HPLC separation of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fullerenes. Fullerenes, as ball-shaped molecules, are much more strongly retained than PAHs on this stationary phase and have the eluted order C₅₀ < C₇₀ < C₇₆ < C₇₈ < C₈₄ in the mobile phase of n-hexane/dichloromethane (100/0 ～ 80/20). In contrast, chromatography on the corresponding unmodified silica phase or SC-3OH-phase (an intermediate phase of Sock-SAF-phase) gave no separation of fullerenes. This fact indicated that the separation of fullerenes on Sock-SAF-phase was related to the selective interaction with the sock moiety.     

Nonlinear optical properties of solutions of heavy fullerenes in the near-ultraviolet region

Nonlinear optical properties (particularly optical limiting) are determined for solutions of heavy fullerenes C₇₆ + C₇₈ + C₈₄ + C₉₀ + …, in the near-ultraviolet region (λ ≈ 280 ± 7 nm). It is shown that no optical limiting is observed in solutions of light fullerenes (C₆₀ and C₇₀), but found in solutions of water-soluble fullerenol-d (a mixture of oxypolyalcohols of fullerene C₆₀-C₆₀(OH) _n1O _n2, with their sodium salts) based on light fullerenes.     

Stable Non‐IPR C60 and C70 Fullerenes Containing a Uniform Distribution of Pyrenes and Adjacent Pentagons

The most abundant fullerenes, C₆₀ and C₇₀, and all the pure carbon fullerenes larger than C₇₀, follow the isolated‐pentagon rule (IPR). Non‐IPR fullerenes containing adjacent pentagons (APs) have been stabilized experimentally in cases where, according to Euler’s theorem, it is topologically impossible to isolate all the pentagons from each other. Surprisingly, recent experiments have shown that a few endohedral fullerenes, for which IPR structures are possible, are stabilized in non‐IPR cages. We show that, apart from strain, the physical property that governs the relative stabilities of fullerenes is the charge distribution in the cage. This charge distribution is controlled by the number and location of APs and pyrene motifs. We show that, when these motifs are uniformly distributed in the cage and well‐separated from one other, stabilization of non‐IPR endohedral and exohedral derivatives, as well as pure carbon fullerene anions and cations, is the rule, rather than the exception. This suggests that non‐IPR derivatives might be even more common than IPR ones.     

1‐Aryl‐4‐Silylmethyl[60]fullerenes: Synthesis,Properties, and Photovoltaic Performance

The efficient nucleophilic addition of aryl Grignard reagents (aryl=4‐MeOC₆H₄, 4‐Me₂NC₆H₄, Ph, 4‐CF₃C₆H₄, and thienyl) to C₆₀ in the presence of DMSO produced 1,2‐arylhydro[60]fullerenes after acid treatment. The reactions of the anions of these arylhydro[60]fullerenes with either dimethylphenylsilylmethyl iodide or dimethyl(2‐isopropoxyphenyl)silylmethyl iodide yielded the target compounds, 1‐aryl‐4‐silylmethyl[60]fullerenes. The properties and structures of these 1‐aryl‐4‐silylmethyl[60]fullerenes (aryl=4‐MeOC₆H₄, thienyl) were examined by electrochemical studies, X‐ray crystallography, flash‐photolysis time‐resolved microwave‐conductivity (FP‐TRMC) measurements, and electron‐mobility measurements by using a space‐charge‐limited current (SCLC) model. Organic photovoltaic devices with a polymer‐based bulk heterojunction structure and small‐molecule‐based p–n and p–i–n heterojunction configurations were fabricated by using 1‐aryl‐4‐silylmethyl[60]fullerenes as an electron acceptor. The most efficient device exhibited a power‐conversion efficiency of 3.4 % (short‐circuit current density: 8.1 mA/ cm², open‐circuit voltage: 0.69 V, fill factor: 0.59).     

Polythermal solubility of light fullerenes in valeric and caproic acids in the temperature range 20–80°C

The polythermal solubility of fullerene C₆₀ and a fullerene mixture (60 wt % C₆₀ + 39 wt % C₇₀ + 1 wt % higher fullerenes C _n , n = 76, 78, 84, 90...) in valeric and caproic acids was studied in the temperature range 20–80°C. The solubility diagrams are presented and characterized.     

Extraction of fullerene mixture from fullerene soot with organic solvents

Investigation of extraction of fullerene mixture from the fullerene soot obtained by plasma erosion of graphite rod in helium atmosphere with different solvents such as α-chloronaphthalene, o-dichlorobenzene, o-xylene, toluene, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and n-hexane at 25°C was carried out. Completeness and effectiveness of extraction as well as relative content of light (C₆₀, C₇₀) and heavy (C₇₆, C₇₈, C₈₄) fullerenes in the extract were evaluated.     

Preferential Formation of Mono‐Metallofullerenes Governed by the Encapsulation Energy of the Metal Elements: A Case Study on Eu@C2n (2n=74–84) Revealing a General Rule

Encapsulating one to three metal atoms or a metallic cluster inside fullerene cages affords endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) classified as mono‐, di‐, tri‐, and cluster‐EMFs, respectively. Although the coexistence of various EMF species in soot is common for rare‐earth metals, we herein report that europium tends to prefer the formation of mono‐EMFs. Mass spectroscopy reveals that mono‐EMFs (Eu@C_2n) prevail in the Eu‐containing soot. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the encapsulation energy of the endohedral metal accounts for the selective formation of mono‐EMFs and rationalize similar observations for EMFs containing other metals like Ca, Sr, Ba, or Yb. Consistently, all isolated Eu‐EMFs are mono‐EMFs, including Eu@D_3h(1)‐C₇₄, Eu@C_2v(19138)‐C₇₆, Eu@C_2v(3)‐C₇₈, Eu@C_2v(3)‐C₈₀, and Eu@D_3d(19)‐C₈₄, which are identified by crystallography. Remarkably, Eu@C_2v(19138)‐C₇₆ represents the first Eu‐containing EMF with a cage that violates the isolated‐pentagon‐rule, and Eu@C_2v(3)‐C₇₈ is the first C₇₈‐based EMF stabilized by merely one metal atom.