A scalable synthesis of methano[60]fullerene and congeners by the oxidative cyclopropanation reaction of silylmethylfullerene

1,2-Dihydromethano[60]fullerene and its congeners have attracted much interest, but they have been synthesized only in very low yields because of several insurmountable problems. A new three-stage synthesis involving addition of a silylmethylmagnesium chloride to [60]- and [70]fullerene and oxidation of the anionic intermediate with CuCl(2) afforded the methano[60]- and methano[70]fullerenes in 90% and 70% overall yield, respectively. The reaction with 1,4-diorgano[60]fullerene also proceeded smoothly to give a diastereomerically pure 56-π-electron fullerene that has a higher LUMO level than the parent fullerene and gave a higher open-circuit voltage and better power conversion efficiency when fabricated into an organic photovoltaic device.     

Solution NMR studies of supramolecular complexes of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with mono O-substituted calix[6]arene

Supramolecular complexation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with 37-allyl-38,39,40,41,42-pentahydroxy-5,11,17,23,29,35-hexa(4-tert butyl)calix[6]arene (I) has been studied in CCl(4) medium by NMR spectrometric method. All of the complexes are found to be stable with 1:1 stoichiometry. Formation constants (K) of the above supramolecular complexes have been determined from systematic variation of NMR chemical shifts of specific protons of I in the presence of [60]- and [70]fullerenes. Trends in the K value suggest that [70]fullerene binds more strongly with I relative to [60]fullerene. Both PM3 and ab initio calculations reveal that the intermolecular interaction in the [70]fullerene/I complex proceeds through quite deep energy minima.     

NMR spectrometric study of molecular complex formation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with a number of phosphine oxides

Molecular complex formation between [60]- and [70]fullerenes with a series of phosphine oxides, namely, tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide, triphenyl phosphine oxide and tri-n-butyl phosphine oxide has been studied in CCl4 medium by NMR spectrometric method. Both [60]- and [70]fullerenes have been shown to form 1:1 adducts with the above series of phosphine oxides. Formation constants (K) for all the complexes have been determined from the systematic variation of NMR chemical shifts of specific protons of the donors in presence of [60]- and [70]fullerenes. Trends in the values of K suggest that [70]fullerene binds stronger with the phosphine oxides relative to [60]fullerene.     

Absorption spectrophotometric study of supramolecular complexation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with 24,26-dimethoxy-25,27-dihydroxy calix[4]arene

Supramolecular interactions of 24,26-dimethoxy-25,27-dihydroxy calix[4]arene (1) with [60]- and [70]fullerenes have been studied in only chloroform and in a ternary solvent mixture comprising of chloroform, ethyl alcohol and toluene by UV-vis absorption spectrophotometric method. The experimental results are explained using the model that takes into account the interaction between electronic subsystems of 1 and fullerene. The most interesting feature is the preference of [60]fullerene over [70]fullerene for 1 in ternary solvent mixture as revealed by higher value of formation constant of [60]fullerene/1 complex. The selectivity towards [60]fullerene opens up the way toward self-assembling systems and new separation and purification methods for fullerenes.     

Novel synthesis and characterization of five isomers of (C(70))(2) fullerene dimers.

The synthesis and characterization of dimers and polymers, wherein two or more cages are linked, represent an important frontier in the chemistry of fullerene derivatives. A simple and novel method that requires no special apparatus has been developed for the dimerization of [70]fullerene to (C70)2. Upon grinding [70]fullerene in a mortar and pestle in the presence of K2CO3, five structural isomers of (C70)2 have been produced. These isomers are separated from one another via high performance liquid chromatography and are characterized by 13C NMR, UV-vis-NIR absorption and mass spectroscopy.     

A comparative study of molecular complexation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with 1,3,5-tribromobenzene by UV-vis spectrophotometric method

By UV-vis spectrophotometric method it has been shown that 1,3,5-tribromobenzene (TBB) forms molecular complexes of 1:2 stoichiometry with [60]- and [70]fullerenes. An isosbestic point could be detected in case of the [70]fullerene complex. The formation constant of the [60]fullerene complex is higher than that of the [70]fullerene complex at each of the four temperatures under study. This is in opposite order of the electron affinities of the two fullerenes; moreover, no charge transfer band was observed in the spectra of either complex in solution. This indicates that van der Waals forces, rather than CT interactions, are responsible for complexation. The results reveal that the C-atoms at the pentagon vertices of [60]fullerene have greater polarizing power than those in [70]fullerene.     

Spectrophotometric study of the supramolecular complexes of [60]- and [70]Fullerenes with biscalix[6]arene and crown[4]calix[6]arene

[60]- and [70]Fullerenes have been shown to form 1:1 supramolecular complexes with bis[2-(5,11,17,23,29,35-hexa-tert-butyl-37,38,39,40,41-pentahydroxycalix[6]arenyl-oxy ethyl ether) (1) and 5,11,17,23,29,35-hexa-tert-butyl-37,38,40,41-tetra hydroxyl-39,42-(crown-4)calix[6]arene (2) in CHCl3 medium by electronic absorption spectroscopy. Formation constants (K) of the complexes of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with 1 and 2 have been determined at room temperature from which free energy of formation values of the complexes have been estimated. The very high formation constant value of [60]fullerene/1 complex (5900 dm3 mol-1) in indicative of formation of inclusion complex. Moreover, PM3 calculations reveal that intermolecular interaction between [60]fullerene and 1 proceeds through quite deep energy molecular orbital.     

Controlling the confinement and alignment of fullerene C(70) in para-substituted calix[5]arenes

In toluene fullerene C(70) forms 2:1 complexes with p-benzylcalix[5]arene (1) and p-phenylcalix[5]arene (2), [C(70) subset1(2)].6(C(7)H(8)) and [C(70) subset2(2)].7(C(7)H(8)). The fullerene molecules are completely shrouded by two calix[5]arenes in addition to terminal benzyl groups from other supermolecules, [C(70) subset1(2)], and solvent. Within the capsule-like supermolecules the calixarenes have distinctly different arrangements relative to the principal axis of the fullerene; for [C(70) subset1(2)].6(C(7)H(8)) the oxygen planes of the two calixarenes are skewed by 37.0 and 47.5 degrees , whereas in [C(70) subset2(2)].7(C(7)H(8)) the principal axes of the fullerene and the two encapsulating calixarenes are more closely aligned with the corresponding angles at 9.7 and 8.6 degrees , and features a pentaphenyl inter-calixarene embrace. The Hirshfeld surfaces of these two complexes have been investigated for a detailed understanding of the orientation and nature of interactions of C(70) with the cavitand-type molecules and toluene.     

Synthesis of [59]fullerenones through peroxide-mediated stepwise cleavage of fullerene skeleton bonds and X-ray structures of their water-encapsulated open-cage complexes

Fullerene skeleton modification has been investigated through selective cleavage of the fullerene carbon-carbon bonds under mild conditions. Several cage-opened fullerene derivatives including three [59]fullerenones with an 18-membered-ring orifice and one [59]fullerenone with a 19-membered-ring orifice have been prepared starting from the fullerene mixed peroxide 1, C60(OOtBu)6. The prepositioned tert-butyl peroxy groups in 1 serve as excellent oxygen sources for formation of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. The cage-opening reactions were initiated by photoinduced homolysis of the tBu-O bond, followed by sequential ring expansion steps. A key step of the ring expansion reactions is the oxidation of adjacent fullerene hydroxyl and amino groups by diacetoxyliodobenzene (DIB). Aminolysis of a cage-opened fullerene derivative containing an anhydride moiety resulted in multiple bond cleavage in one step. A domino mechanism was proposed for this reaction. Decarboxylation led to elimination of one carbon atom from the C60 cage and formation of [59]fullerenones. The cage-opened [59]fullerenones were found to encapsulate water under mild conditions. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic data. Single-crystal structures were also obtained for five skeleton-modified derivatives including two water-encapsulated fulleroids.     

Energies of charge transfer and formation equilibria of the complexes of [70]fullerene with some interesting polyaromatic molecules

We have investigated electron donor-acceptor complexes of [70]fullerene with various polyaromatic molecules (PAM) with different vertical ionization potentials (I(D)(v)). Well defined charge transfer (CT) absorption bands have been located in the visible region. We extract degrees of charge transfer, oscillator and transition dipole strengths by analyzing the transition energy of the CT band as a function of I(D)(v) of the donors studied. The experimental results were explained using a theoretical model that takes into account the interaction between electronic subsystems of PAM with [70]fullerene. Trends in the formation constant for the [70]fullerene/PAM complexes were discussed in terms of enthalpies and entropies of formation.     

Spectroscopic and thermodynamic study of charge transfer interactions of retinol palmitate with [60]- and [70]fullerenes by absorption spectrometric method

Retinol palmitate (1), which is commonly called "Vitamin A palmitate", has been shown to form charge transfer (CT) complexes with a series of electron acceptors including [60]- and [70]fullerenes, and from the trends in CT transition energies the vertical ionization potential of 1 has been estimated to be 7.73eV. Stoichiometries of the fullerene complexes have been shown to be 1(Vitamin 1): 1([70]fullerene) and 1(Vitamin 1): 2([60]fullerene). The enthalpies and entropies of formation of these two complexes have been determined by estimating the formation constants spectrophotometrically at five different temperatures. The complexation phenomenon may be utilised to dissolve the fullerenes in the non-toxic Vitamin A oil and the solution may be used for testing the biological activity of the fullerenes in vivo.     

Synthesis and photoinduced energy- and electron-transfer processes of C60-oligothienylenevinylene-C70 dumbbell compounds

Unsymmetric dumbbell molecules based on N-methylpyrrolidine[60]fullerene, oligothienylenevinylenes (nTV; n=2, 4), and N-methylpyrrolidine[70]fullerene, namely, C(60) -nTV-C(70) were synthesized and their photophysical properties were studied. In nonpolar solvents, photoinduced energy-transfer process predominantly takes place from the singlet excited state of nTV to C(60) and C(70) , as was confirmed by time-resolved emission and transient absorption spectroscopy. In polar solvent, charge-separation processes take place instead of energy transfer. The generated charge-separated radical-ion pairs decay to the neutral molecules by a fast charge-recombination process; for n=4, a rate constant of 2×10(7) s(-1) and lifetime of 50 ns were evaluated.     

Study of electron donor-acceptor complexes of tri-n-octyl amine with [60]- and [70]fullerenes and some other electron acceptors by absorption spectrophotometric method

Electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes of tri-n-octylamine (TOA) with [60]- and [70]fullerenes and some other electron acceptors have been studied in chloroform medium by absorption spectrophotometric technique. Charge transfer (CT) absorption bands are observed in the visible region. Vertical ionization potential of TOA was determined utilizing CT transition energy. Oscillator strengths, transition dipole strengths and resonance energies for all the complexes have been calculated. [60]Fullerene/TOA and [70]fullerene/TOA complexes are found to decay slowly with time. Kinetics of these reactions have been studied and activation energies for such processes have been estimated. Ab initio calculations suggest that complexation of [70]fullerene with TOA is enthalpy favoured.     

Molecular photoelectric switch using a mixed SAM of organic [60]fullerene and [70]fullerene doped with a single iron atom

We describe a photoswitch fabricated on indium tin oxide (ITO) as a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of two fullerene molecules, a purely organic [60]fullerene that generates an anodic current and a [70]fullerene doped with a single iron atom. This device generates a bidirectional photocurrent upon irradiation at 340 and 490 nm. The new [70]fullerene iron complex bearing three rigid carboxylic acid legs, Fe[C(70)(C(6)H(4)C(6)H(4)COOH)(3)]Cp, generates only a cathodic current upon photoexcitation between 350 and 700 nm, whereas the organic [60]fullerene absorbs at wavelengths shorter than 500 nm. The quantum efficiency of the photocurrent generation by the mixed SAM is comparable to that of a single-component SAM, indicating that the individual diode molecules on ITO generate photocurrents independently with little cross talk.     

Charge Transfer in the Electron Donor-Acceptor Complexes of [60]Fullerene/PM567 and [70]Fullerene/PM567

UV-Vis spectroscopic investigations of electron donor-acceptor complexes of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with a well-known laser dye, viz., 4,4-difluoro-1,3,5,7,8-pentamethyl-2,6-diethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indecene (PM567), are reported in toluene solutions. Absorption bands due to charge transfer (CT) transitions have been located in the visible region. The vertical ionization potential of PM567 has been determined utilizing Mulliken’s equation. A possible mechanism for the interaction between the electronic subsystems of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with PM567 is discussed. Oscillator strengths, resonance energies and electronic coupling elements of the CT complexes were estimated. Formation constant data and ab initio calculations suggest that PM567 binds more tightly with [60]fullerene compared to [70]fullerene.     

Site-selective Synthesis of β-[70]PCBM-like Fullerenes: Efficient Application in Perovskite Solar Cells

We report on the site-selective synthesis of PCBM-like [70]fullerene site-isomers, where the elusive β-site-isomers are, for the first time, the major product in a (cyclo)addition chemical reaction involving [70]fullerene. The reaction involves an straightforward cyclopropanation of [70]fullerene from sulfonium salts, affording a mixture of α and β site-isomers in good yields. Amazingly, the preference for the α- or β-site-isomer can be efficiently controlled by means of the solvent polarity! DFT theoretical calculations (DMF and toluene) nicely predict that, although the formation of the α-adduct is, as expected, thermodynamically favored, the selectivity of the process is determined by the energy difference of the respective transition states. Furthermore, the employ of α or/and β site-isomers, as pure materials or as a mixture of them, used as templating agent, has been evaluated in perovskite solar cells. The positive influence of the [70]fullerenes by passivating the voids/pin-holes and/or deep slits, is reflected in highly efficient and stable bulk heterojunction perovskite solar cells, whose performance (around 20 %) is slightly but consistently depending on the isomeric fullerene composition. These experimental findings pave the way to investigate a new reactivity on C₇₀ and to explore the properties of the less-known β-derivatives.     

Energies of Charge Transfer for the Supramolecular Complexes of [60]- and [70]Fullerenes with a Series of meso-Tetraphenylporphyrins in the Solution State

Supramolecular complexes of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with various meso-tetraphenylporphyrins in toluene solutions have been studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy. Charge transfer (CT) absorption bands are observed in the visible region. Vertical ionization potentials (I _D ^V) of the meso-tetraphenylporphyrins are reported from a study of EDA interaction of these porphyrins with a number of electron acceptors like o-chloranil, p-chloranil, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) and vitamin K. The dependence of the CT transition energy on the donor ionization potential has been utilized to estimate the vertical electron affinities (E _A ^V) of [60]- and [70]fullerenes in solution. The value of E _A ^V for [60]fullerene is found to be 0.10 eV lower in magnitude than that of [70]fullerene. We have extracted degrees of CT, and oscillator and transition dipole strengths of the fullerenes/meso-tetraphenylporphyrins complexes. The experimental results show that the CT complexes studied here have a neutral character in their ground states. Electronic coupling elements have been determined for fullerene/meso-tetraphenylporphyrin complexes. Values of the solvent reorganization energy indicate that the electron transfer process takes place at a faster rate in the case of [70]fullerene/meso-tetraphenylporphyrin complexes.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of highly water-soluble polycarboxylic derivatives of [70]fullerene

We report here a facile preparation of highly water-soluble derivatives C(70)[p-C(6)H(4)(CH(2))(n)COOH](8) (n = 2, 3) starting from readily available chlorinated [70]fullerene precursors C(70)Cl(8) and C(70)Cl(10). The synthesized fullerene derivatives showed pronounced antiviral activity in vitro, particularly against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and influenza A virus (subtypes H1N1 and H3N2).     

Radical reaction of [60]fullerene with phosphorus compounds mediated by manganese(III) acetate

Radical reaction of [60]fullerene with phosphonates or phosphine oxide mediated by manganese(III) acetate dihydrate in chlorobenzene under three different conditions afforded three different types of phosphorylated fullerenes: singly bonded fullerene dimers 2, hydrophosphorylated fullerenes 3, and acetoxylated fullerene derivatives 4. In addition, interconversions among the three types of phosphorylated fullerene derivatives have also been investigated. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed to explain experimental results.     

Cuboctahedral symmetry in the aggregation of [60]fullerene in polar organic media

[60]fullerene is known to aggregate in water and all experimental and theoretical evidences support that the aggregates contain (C60)13 units. No chemical kinetic study of the effect of solvent polarity on the aggregation of C60 has so far been reported. Here we show by simple kinetic study of the aggregation process and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that when methanol is added to a solution of [60]fullerene in CCl4, spontaneous aggregation starts immediately and the aggregation numbers (n) found to be dependent on the CCl4:CH3OH ratio (v/v) of the medium. One particular ratio of the two liquids gives uniformly sized (C60)13 clusters for about 10 min. The values of n correspond to the minima of the previously reported energy calculations and in the present work, they have been shown to be a natural consequence of stacking of cuboctahedra made up of C60 molecules. A Young diagram-like method has been developed for counting the number of C60 molecules in these cuboctahedral stacks and the numbers obtained from this model and also from the present chemical kinetic and SEM studies agree very well with the "magic numbers" obtained by earlier mass spectrometric studies.