Molecular modeling of hydration properties of hydrophobic ions Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>@C<Subscript>60</Subscript> and K<Superscript>+</Superscript>@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

The Gibbs free energies of solvation (ΔG _s) and the electronic structures of endohedral metallofullerenes M⁺@C₆₀ (M⁺= Li⁺, K⁺) were calculated within the framework of the density functional theory and the polarizable continuum model. In water environment, the equilibrium position of K⁺ is at the center of the fullerene cavity whereas that of Li⁺ is shifted by 0.14 nm toward the fullerene cage. The Li⁺ cation is stabilized by interactions with both the fullerene and solvent. The equilibrium structures of both endohedral metallofullerenes are characterized by very close ΔG _s values. In particular, the calculated ΔG _s values for K⁺@C₆₀ are in the range from −124 to −149 kJ mol⁻¹ depending on the basis set and on the type of the density functional. Molecular dynamics simulations (TIP3P H₂O, OPLS force field, water sphere of radius 1.9 nm) showed that the radial distribution functions of water density around C₆₀ and M⁺@C₆₀ are very similar, whereas orientations of water dipoles around the endohedral metallofullerenes resemble the hydration pattern of isolated metal ions.     

Endohedral Complex of Fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> with Tetrahedral N<Subscript>4</Subscript>, N<Subscript>4</Subscript>@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

B3LYP/6-31G(d) hybrid HF/DFT and BLYP/6-31G(d, p) DFT calculations were carried out to determine the structural and electronic properties of the endohedral complex of C₆₀ with Tetrahedral N₄ (T_d N₄), N₄@C₆₀. It was demonstrated that N₄ was seated in the center of the fullerene cage and the tetrahedral structure of N₄ is remained in the cage. The formation of this complex is endothermic with inclusion energy of 37.92 kcal/mol. N₄ endohedral doping perturbs the molecular orbitals of C₆₀ not so much, the calculated HOMO–LUMO gaps, the electron affinity (EA) and the ionizational potential (IP) of N₄@C₆₀ are similar to that of C₆₀.     

Classical Valence Similarity in Fullerene Derivatives

Summary.  The generalized Pauling bond order was enumerated in the C₆₀ fullerene cage molecule (truncated icosahedral symmetry). This index measures chemical similarity in fullerene derivatives such as dihydrofullerene (C₆₀H₂), anionized monohydrofullerene (C₆₀H⁻), N-substituted monohydrofullerene (C₅₉NH), the fullerene dimer ((C₆₀)₂), and the dianionic fullerene dimer ((C₆₀)₂ ²⁻). It is also useful in judging the chemical stability of isomers. Received October 9, 2001. Accepted November 9, 2001     

First Synthesis and Characterization of CH4@C60

The endohedral fullerene CH₄@C₆₀, in which each C₆₀ fullerene cage encapsulates a single methane molecule, has been synthesized for the first time. Methane is the first organic molecule, as well as the largest, to have been encapsulated in C₆₀ to date. The key orifice contraction step, a photochemical desulfinylation of an open fullerene, was completed, even though it is inhibited by the endohedral molecule. The crystal structure of the nickel(II) octaethylporphyrin/ benzene solvate shows no significant distortion of the carbon cage, relative to the C₆₀ analogue, and shows the methane hydrogens as a shell of electron density around the central carbon, indicative of the quantum nature of the methane. The ¹H spin‐lattice relaxation times (T₁) for endohedral methane are similar to those observed in the gas phase, indicating that methane is freely rotating inside the C₆₀ cage. The synthesis of CH₄@C₆₀ opens a route to endofullerenes incorporating large guest molecules and atoms.     

Molecular structures and thermochemistry of the derivatives of C<Subscript>24</Subscript> fullerene by attaching a variety of chemical groups

A series of exohedrally functionalized derivatives of the D ₆-symmetrical C₂₄ fullerene, with attached -CH₂OH, -CONH₂, -COOH, and -COH chemical groups, have been investigated by using density-functional theory approach at the UB3LYP/6-31G(d) level. According to the calculated results, the C₂₄(COOH) is the most stable structure, with −73.58 kcal mol⁻¹ value for the functionalization reaction energy and 3.16 eV for the dissociation energy, while C₂₄(CONH₂) displays the largest dipole moment (3.09 D). It was also found that the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, the vertical ionization potentials (VIP), and vertical electron affinities (VEA) of these functionalized derivatives are similar to those of the more stable C₂₄ fullerene. Moreover, their corresponding HOMO and LUMO orbitals are mainly associated with the surface of the cage. Also, the vibrational frequencies of these derivatives are discussed. It was concluded that it would be possible to produce novel species for bio-medical applications by attaching selected chemical groups.     

Theoretical study of association of acetylene,benzene, and carbonyl molecules “squeezed” inside fullerene cages

The equilibrium geometries, normal mode frequencies, magnetic shielding constants, and energetic characteristics of model endohedral 2(C₂H₂)@C₇₀, (C₄H₄)@C₇₀, 2(C₆H₆)C₈₄, (C₁₂H₁₂)@C₈₄, 6(CO)@C₈₄, and (C₆O₆)@C₈₄ clusters, mimicking the structure and properties of the guest molecules under “ultrahigh” pressures inside the fullerene cages, were calculated at the density functional theory B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP/6-31G* levels. According to the calculations, all the structures under consideration correspond to local minima of the corresponding potential energy surfaces. The 2(C₂H₂)@C₇₀ isomer with two separated endohedral acetylene molecules turns out to be considerably less favorable than the (C₄H₄)@C₇₀ isomer with endohedral cyclobutadiene. The 2(C₆H₆)C₈₄ isomer with two separated endohedral benzene rings is almost 30 kcal/mol less favorable than the (C₁₂H₁₂)@C₈₄) isomer with distorted endohedral prismane. The 6(CO)@C₈₄ isomer with six separated carbonyl molecules is almost 45 kcal/mol less favorable than the (C₆O₆)@C₈₄ isomer in which the carbonyls are associated to form a more compact cyclic hexamer C₆O₆. The barriers separating the “associated” and “dissociated” (consisting of monomers) isomers are estimated at 10–15 kcal/mol. Calculations show that, in extremely tight endoclusters, the increase in compression and strain energy caused by the repulsion of the electronic shells of guest molecules and wall atoms is accompanied by a sharp energetic stabilization of compact associated isomers (including those poorly stable or unstable in the free state) as compared with the dissociated isomers, on the one hand, and by a sharp decrease in activation barriers, on the other hand. Both factors should favor the realization of association processes unlikely or impossible under common conditions.     

Do Carbon Nano-onions Behave as Nanoscopic Faraday Cages? A Comparison of the Reactivity of C60, C240, C60@C240, Li+@C60, Li+@C240, and Li+@C60@C240

From the analysis of the polarizability of carbon nano-onions (CNOs), it was concluded that CNOs behave as near perfect nanoscopic Faraday cages. If CNOs behave as ideal Faraday cages, the reactivity of the C₂₄₀ cage should be the same in Li⁺@C₂₄₀ and Li⁺@C₆₀@C₂₄₀. In this work, the Diels–Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene to the free C₂₄₀ cage and the C₆₀@C₂₄₀ CNO together with their Li⁺-doped counterparts were analyzed using DFT. It was found that in all cases the preferred cycloaddition is on bond [6,6] of type B of C₂₄₀. Encapsulation of Li⁺ results in lower enthalpy barriers due to the decrease of the energy of the LUMO orbital of the C₂₄₀ cage. When the Li⁺ is placed inside the CNO C₆₀@C₂₄₀, the decrease in enthalpy barrier is similar to that of Li⁺@C₂₄₀. However, the location of Li⁺ in Li⁺@C₂₄₀ (off-centered) and Li⁺@C₆₀@C₂₄₀ (centered) is quite different. When Li⁺ was placed in the center of the C₂₄₀ cage in Li⁺@C₂₄₀, the barriers increased significantly. Taking into account this effect, the barriers in Li⁺@C₂₄₀ and Li⁺@C₆₀@C₂₄₀ differ by about 4 kcal mol⁻¹. This result can be attributed to the shielding effect of C₆₀ in Li⁺@C₆₀@C₂₄₀. As a result, we conclude that this CNO does not act as a perfect Faraday cage.     

Theoretical and experimental study of fullerenol molecules and ions C60(OH)24 ? n(OL)n and C60(OH)24 ? n(OL)nL+ successively substituted by Alkali Metal atoms L (n = 1?24)

The equilibrium geometric parameters and the energetic characteristics of fullerenol molecules and ions C₆₀(OH)_{24 − n} (OL) _n and C₆₀(OH)_{24 − n} (OL) _n L⁺ successively substituted by alkali metal atoms L with the number of substitutions n = 1–24 have been calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP/6-31G* method. For all compounds, the structure of the covalent [C₆₀O₂₄] cage in which the oxygen atoms are bound to the C atoms of the six-membered [C₆] rings of the fullerene cage, six O atoms per [C₆] ring. The lithium derivatives have been considered in most detail. Computations have shown that the first four single substitutions of Li for H in the OH groups attached to the same C₆ ring require very low energy inputs, no more than 1 kcal/mol, and can spontaneously occur under common conditions. The further fifth and sixth single substitutions in the same C₆ ring are endothermic, but the required energy inputs are also modest (on the order of few kcal/mol). The first and second cooperative substitutions of Li for H simultaneously in all four hydroxylated C₆ rings require energy inputs of ∼3 and 11.6 kcal/mol, respectively; in the third and fourth fourfold substitutions, the energies increase by ∼15–16 kcal/mol. The mean partial energy per single substitution of Li for H in this series (n = 1−6) is ∼2 kcal/mol. Calculations have predicted that all C₆₀(OH)_{24 − n} (OLi) _n molecules with intermediated degrees of substitution (n = 1−16) can be obtained under the conditions of relatively low energy inputs (for example, under the conditions of the MALDI experiment) and can exist in the isolated state. For the sodium- and potassium-substituted analogues, the qualitative pattern persists, but the H/Na and H/K substitutions are somewhat more endothermic. The computational results are compared with the MALDI mass spectrum of the [C₆₀(OH) _x (ONa) _y -CH₃COONa) system.     

Fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> as a superefficient quencher of singlet exited states of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Quenching of fluorescence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), namely, naphthalene, anthracene, 9,10-diphenylanthracene, 9,10-dibromoanthracene by C₆₀ fullerene in ethylbenzene at 293 K was found and investigated. The phenomenon is characterized by abnormally high values of bimolecular rate constants for quenching (k _bim = (0.18–6.78)·10¹² L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) determined from the Stern—Volmer dependence of the PAH fluorescence intensity on the C₆₀ concentration and occurs through the inductive-resonance (dominant channel) and exchange-resonance (minor channel) energy transfer from ¹PAH* to C₆₀. The overlap integrals of the PAH fluorescence spectra with the C₆₀ absorption spectrum and the critical energy transfer distances were calculated. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 432–436, March, 2007.     

Structural and Electronic Characteristics of Endohedral Metallofullerenes: Y2C2@C82 and Y2@C84 Isomers

A quantum-chemical study was made of the structure and electronic characteristics of the novel endohedral metallofullerene Y₂C₂@C₈₂ in comparison with the Y₂@C₈₄ isomer. The interactions between the encapsulated Y₂C₂ cluster and the C₈₂ fullerene cage are ionic in nature. The electronic spectrum of Y₂C₂@C₈₂ differs greatly from the "parent" C₈₂ fullerene and has a metal-like form. The results are compared with existing experimental data.     

Cycloaddition of C60 fullerene to stable 2-RSO2-benzonitrile oxides

The interaction of stable 2-RSO₂-benzonitrile oxides1a−c (R=Ph, Bu^t, or PhMeN) with C₆₀ fullerene proceeds at the double (6,6)-bond of fullerene as the [3+2] cycloaddition to form the corresponding isoxazolines2a−c. The molecular structure of compound2b was established by X-ray structural analysis. The interaction of C₆₀ fullerene with 2-(5-methyl-4-nitrothiophene)carbonitrile sulfide, which was obtained by thermolysis of 5-(5′-methyl-4′-nitro-2′-thienyl)1,3,4-oxathiazol-2-one, affords only unstable products. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 118–126, January, 1997.     

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.     

[10]CPP-Based Inclusion Complexes of Charged Fulleropyrrolidines. Effect of the Charge Location on the Photoinduced Electron Transfer

A number of non-covalently bound donor-acceptor dyads, consisting of C₆₀ as the electron acceptor and cycloparaphenylene (CPP) as the electron donor, have been reported. A hypsochromic shift of the charge transfer (CT) band in polar medium has been found in [10]CPP⊃Li⁺@C₆₀ . To explore this anomalous effect, we study inclusion complexes [10]CPP⊃Li⁺@C₆₀-MP , [10]CPP⊃C₆₀-MPH⁺ , and [10]CPP⊃C₆₀-PPyMe⁺ formed by fulleropyrrolidine derivatives and [10]CPP using the DFT/TDDFT approach. We show that the introduction of a positively charged fragment into fullerene stabilizes CT states that become the lowest-lying excited states. These charge-separated states can be generated by the decay of locally excited states on a nanosecond to picosecond time scale. The distance of the charged fragment to the center of the fullerenic cage and its accessibility to the solvent determine the strength of the hypsochromic shift.     

Ionic fullerene compounds containing negatively charged dimers and coordinatively bound anions

The review summarizes the results of investigations of ionic fullerene compounds containing negatively charged dimers and fullerene anions coordinated to metalloporphyrins. Fullerene radical anions were found to form diamagnetic singly bonded (C₆₀ ⁻)₂ and (C₇₀ ⁻)₂ dimers. Dimerization is reversible and leads to paramagnetic—diamagnetic phase transitions or a decrease in the magnetic moment of the complexes. The temperature, at which dissociation of the (C₆₀ ⁻)₂ dimers begins, varies from 140 to 320 K; the corresponding temperature for the (C₇₀ ⁻)₂ dimers varies from 260 to 360 K and higher. We prepared the first doubly bonded (C₆₀ ⁻)₂ dimer. At 300 K, this dimer exists as a biradical. The fullerene radical anions form Co—C coordination bonds with cobalt(II) porphyrinates. The resulting anions are diamagnetic. In some cases, Co—C coordination bonds undergo reversible dissociation, resulting in magnetic transitions from the diamagnetic to the paramagnetic state. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 361–381, March, 2007.     

Simulation of molecular and electronic structure of η5-π-complexes of fullereneI h -C 60 with half-sandwich XCp species (X=Si, Ge, Sn)

The molecular and electronic structure of hypothetical complexes of unsubstituted fullerene C₆₀ withI _h symmetry and its cyclopentadienyl type derivatives were simulated by the MNDO/PM3 method taking the C₆₀(XC[) _n molecules (n=1, 2, 10, 12; X=Si, Ge, Sn) and η⁵-C₆₀H₅XCp (X=Ge, Sn), respectively, as example. The complexes 12η⁵-πC₆₀(XCp)₁₂ and η⁵-πC₆₀XCp withI _h andC _5v symmetry, respectively, were found to be the most stable compounds. The energies of the X−C₆₀ bonds in these complexes are close to those of X−Cp bonds in bis(cyclopentadienyl) complexes XCp₂ and are substantially higher than the energies of similar bonds in complexes of unsubstituted fullerene η¹-πC₆₀(XCp)⁻ and η⁵-πC₆₀(XCp)⁺. Geometric parameters and spin densities in radicals C₆₀XCp and biradicals C₆₀(XCp)₂ and C₆₀H₁₀ were calculated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2155–2165, November, 1998.     

Laser flash photolysis of fullerols of C60 and of C70 in aqueous solutions

Fullerols of C₆₀ and of C₇₀ [C₆₀(OH)_n, C₇₀(OH)_m], water-soluble fullerene derivatives, unlike some other fullerene derivatives (such as C₆₀ (C₄H₆O), C₆₀ (C₃H₇N) and C₆₀ [C(COOEt)₂]_x), do not result in excited triplet state but in ionization via monophotonic process in aqueous solutions with 248 nm laser. The quantum yields of formation of hydrated electron (Φ_e ⁻) are determined to be 0.08 and 0.11 for fullerols of C₆₀ and of C₇₀ respectively at room temperature (ca. 15°C) with KI solution used as reference. By laser flash photolysis and oxidation of sulfate radical anion SO₄ ⁻, the fullerol radical cation or neutral radical of C₆₀ is confirmed to be existent and the transient absorption spectra of fullerol radical cation of C₇₀ are observed for the first time. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Identification of the Most Stable Sc2C80 Isomers: Structure,Electronic Property,and Molecular Spectra Investigations

A systematic density functional theory investigation has been carried out to explore the possible structures of Sc₂C₈₀ at the BMK/6‐31G(d) level. The results clearly show that Sc₂@C₈₀‐I_h, Sc₂@C₈₀‐D_5h, and Sc₂C₂@C₇₈‐C_2v can be identified as three isomers of Sc₂C₈₀ metallofullerene with the lowest energy. Frontier molecular orbital analysis indicates that the two Sc₂@C₈₀ isomers have a charge state as (Sc³⁺)₂@C₈₀^6?and the Sc₂C₂@C₇₈ has a charge state of (Sc³⁺)₂C₂^2?@C₇₈^4?. Moreover, the metal‐cage covalent interactions have been studied to reveal the dynamics of endohedral moiety. The vertical electron affinity, vertical ionization potential, infrared spectra and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been also computed to further disclose the molecular structures and properties.     

C60 as a chemical Faraday cage for three ferromagnetic Fe atoms

Based on calculations using density functional theory, we show that C₆₀ can act as a chemical Faraday cage in which a highly magnetic metal cluster with a high chemical reactivity can be encapsulated. As an example, we find that C₆₀ can encapsulate a Fe₃ cluster, while it is much less likely to encapsulate a Fe₂ cluster. Spin multiplicity (=9) of the Fe₃@C₆₀ is very high, being comparable to that (=11) of a free Fe₃ cluster. Geometrically, the triangular plane of the cluster is perpendicular to a S₆ axis of the fullerene.     

La2@Cs(17 490)‐C76: A New Non‐IPR Dimetallic Metallofullerene Featuring Unexpectedly Weak Metal–Pentalene Interactions

Although all the pure‐carbon fullerene isomers above C₆₀ reported to date comply with the isolated pentagon rule (IPR), non‐IPR structures, which are expected to have different properties from those of IPR species, are obtainable either by exohedral modification or by endohedral atom doping. This report describes the isolation and characterization of a new endohedral metallofullerene (EMF), La₂@C₇₆, which has a non‐IPR fullerene cage. The X‐ray crystallographic result for the La₂@C₇₆/[Ni^II(OEP)] (OEP=octaethylporphyrin) cocrystal unambiguously elucidated the C_s(17 490)‐C₇₆ cage structure, which contains two adjacent pentagon pairs. Surprisingly, multiple metal sites were distinguished from the X‐ray data, which implies dynamic behavior for the two La³⁺ cations inside the cage. This dynamic behavior was also corroborated by variable‐temperature ¹³⁹ La NMR spectroscopy. This phenomenon conflicts with the widely accepted idea that the metal cations in non‐IPR EMFs invariably coordinate strongly with the negatively charged fused‐pentagon carbons, thereby providing new insights into modern coordination chemistry. Furthermore, our electrochemical and computational studies reveal that La₂@C_s(17 490)‐C₇₆ has a larger HOMO–LUMO gap than other dilanthanum‐EMFs with IPR cage structures, such as La₂@D_3h(5)‐C₇₈ and La₂@I_h(7)‐C₈₀, which implies that IPR is no longer a strict rule for EMFs.