Multiple Adducts of C60 by Tether-Directed Remote Functionalization and synthesis of soluble derivatives of new carbon allotropes Cn(60+5)

A comprehensive series of multiple adducts of C₆₀ was prepared by tether-directed remote functionalization. When the tether-reactive-group conjugates 2 and 10 were attached to methano[60]fullerenecarboxylic acid ( = cyclopropafullerene-C₆₀-I_h-carboxylic acid) and C₆₀, respectively, the e-bis-adducts 4 and 9 (Schemes 1 and 2) were obtained with complete regioselectivity as predicted by semi-empirical PM3 calculations (Fig. 2). Attachment of the anchor-tether-reactive-group conjugate 13 to C₆₀ by Bingel reaction, followed by double intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition afforded the tris-adduct 12 (Scheme 3). Starting from 12 , a series of selective e-additions led to the tetrakis-adducts 16 and 19 (Scheme 4), pentakis-adducts 20 – 23 (Scheme 5), and, ultimately, to hexakis-adducts 24 and 25 (Scheme 6), and 29 and 30 (Scheme 7) with a pseudo-octahedral addition pattern on the fullerene core. Oxidative cyclization of diethynylmethanofullerene 30 under Eglinton-Glaser conditions afforded the trimeric and tetrameric acetylenic macrocycles 26 , with three, and 27 , with four appended C₆₀ moieties, respectively (Scheme 8). These multinanometer-sized compounds are the first soluble derivatives of C₁₉₅ and C₂₆₀, two members of a new class of fullerene-acetylene hybrid C-allotropes with the general formula C_{n(60 + 5)}. The matrix-assisted laser-desorption time-of-flight mass spectra of 26 and 27 showed a remarkable fragmentation; the sequential loss of fullerene spheres led to the formation of ions corresponding to mono-fullerene adducts of the cyclocarbons cyclo-C₁₅ and cyclo-C₂₀ (Fig. 4). Large solvent effects were observed in the Bingel addition of 2-bromomalonates to higher adducts of C₆₀, with the use of polar solvents enhancing the reaction rate without loss of regioselectivity. Experimental evidence for the enhanced reactivity of e_face over e_edge bonds was obtained, which had previously been predicted in computational studies. The correlated series of mono- to hexakis-adducts of C₆₀ allowed identification of the changes in reactivity and physical properties that occur, when the conjugated π-electron chromophore of the fullerene is reduced as a result of increasing functionalization; this analysis is the subject of the directly following paper.     

Fullerene-Acetylene Molecular Scaffolding: Chemistry of 2-functionalized 1-ethynylated C60, oxidative homocoupling,hexakis-adduct formation,and attempted synthesis of C

On the way to the fullerene-acetylene hybrid carbon allotropes 2 and 6 , the oxidative homocoupling of the 2-functionalized 1-ethynylated C₆₀ derivatives 11, 12, 14 , and 15 was investigated. Under Glaser-Hay conditions, the two soluble dumbbell-shaped bisfullerenes 17 and 18 , with two C₆₀ moieties linked by a buta-1,3-diynediyl bridge, were formed in 52 and 82% yield, respectively (Scheme 2). Cyclic-voltammetric measurements revealed that there is no significant electronic communication between the two fullerene spheres via the buta-1,3-diynediyl linker. Removal of the 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl (Thp) protecting groups in 18 gave in 80% yield the highly insoluble dumbbell 19 with methanol groups in the 2,2′-positions of the buta-1,3-diynediyl-bridged carbon spheres. Attempted conversion of 19 to the all-carbon dianion 6 (C) via base-induced elimination of formaldehyde was not successful presumably due to exo-dig cyclization of the formed alkoxides. The occurrence of this cyclization under furan formation was proven for 2-[4-(trimethylsilyl)buta-1,3-diyn-1-yl][60]fullerene-1-methanol ( 21 ), a soluble model compound for 19 (Scheme 3). To compare the properties of ethynylated fullerene mono-adducts to those of corresponding higher adducts, hexakis-adducts 26 and 28 with an octahedral functionalization pattern resulting from all-e (equatorial) additions were prepared by the reversible-template method of Hirsch (Scheme 4). Reaction of the ethynylated mono-adducts 25 or 13 with diethyl 2-bromomalonate/1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in the presence of 1,9-dimethylanthracene (DMA) as reversible template led to 26 and 28 in 28 and 22% yield, respectively. Preliminary experiments indicated a significant change in reactivity and NMR spectral properties of the fullerene addends with increasing degree of functionalization.     

Probing the spatial requirements for [60]fullerene-[60]fullerene π-stacking and the syn addition of [60]fullerenes across acenes

The reaction between 2 equiv of [60]fullerene and 6,8,15,17-tetraphenylheptacene-7,16-quinone leads to both cis and trans-bis[60]fullerene adducts. This result contrasts sharply with the highly diastereoselective syn additions of [60]fullerenes across 6,13-diphenylpentacene and 6,8,15,17-tetraphenylheptacene. The importance of spatially dependent [60]fullerene-[60]fullerene π-stacking interactions in promoting a syn addition of [60]fullerenes is discussed.     

Macrocyclization on the fullerene core: Direct regio- and diastereoselective multi-functionalization of [60]fullerene,and synthesis of fullerene-dendrimer derivatives

The macrocyclization between buckminsterfullerene, C₆₀, and bis-malonate derivatives in double Bingel reaction provides a versatile and simple method for the preparation of covalent bis-adducts of C₆₀ with high regio- and diastereoselectivity. A combination of spectral analysis, stereochemical considerations, and X-ray crystallography (Fig. 2) revealed that out of the possible in-in, in-out, and out-out stereoisomers, the reaction of bis-malonates linked by o-, m-, or p-xylylene tethers afforded only the out-out ones (Scheme 1). In contrast, the use of larger tethers derived from 1,10-phenanthroline also provided a first example, (±)- 19 (Scheme 2), of an in-out product. Starting from optically pure bis-malonate derivatives, the new bis-functionalization method permitted the diastereoselective preparation of optically active fullerene derivatives (Schemes 4 and 5) and, ultimately, the enantioselective preparation (enantiomeric excess ee > 97%) of optically active cis-3 bis-adducts whose chirality results exclusively from the addition pattern (Fig. 6). The macrocyclic fixation of a bis-malonate with an optically active, 9,9′-spirobi[9H-fluorene]-derived tether to C₆₀ under generation of 24 and ent- 24 with an achiral addition pattern (Scheme 4) was found to induce dramatic changes in the chiroptical properties of the tether chromophore such as strong enhancement and reversal of sign of the Cotton effects in the circular dichroism (CD) spectra (Figs. 4 and 5). By the same method, the functionafized bis-adducts 50 and 51 (Schemes 10 and 11) were prepared as initiator cores for the synthesis of the fullerene dendrimers 62 , 63 , and 66 (Schemes 12 and 13) by convergent growth. Finally, the new methodology was extended, to the regio- and diastereoselective construction of higher cyclopropanated adducts. Starting from mono-adduct 71 , a clipping reaction provided exclusively the all-cis-2 tris-adduct (±)- 72 (Scheme 14), whereas the similar reaction of bis-adduct 76 afforded the all-cis-2 tetrakis-adduct 77 (Scheme 15). Electrochemical investigations by steady-state voltammetry (Table 2) in CH₂Cl₂ (+0.1M Bu₄NPF₆) showed that all macroeyciic bis(methano)fullerenes underwent multiple reduction steps, and that regioisomerism was not much influencing the redox potentials, All cis-2 bis-adducts gave an instable dianion which decomposed during the electrochemical reduction. In CH₂Cl₂, the redox potential of the fullerene core in dendrimers 62, 63 , and 66 is not affected by differences in size and density of the surrounding poly(ether-amide) dendrons. The all-cis-2 tris- and tetrakis(meihano)fullercnes (±) -72 and 77 , respectively, are reduced at more negative potential than previously reported all-e tris- and tetrakis-adducts with methane bridges that are also located along an equatorial belt. This indicates a larger perturbation of the original fullerene π-chromophore and a larger raise in LUMO energy in the former derivatives.     

Synthesis of Amphiphilic Fullerene Derivatives and Their Incorporation in Langmuir and Langmuir‐Blodgett Films

Various amphiphilic fullerene derivatives were prepared by functionalization of [5,6]fullerene‐C₆₀‐I_h (C₆₀) with malonate or bis‐malonate derivatives obtained by esterification of the malonic acid mono‐esters 5 – 7 . Cyclopropafullerene 10 was obtained by protection of the carboxylic acid function of 6 as a tert‐butyl ester, followed by Bingel addition to C₆₀ and a deprotection step (Scheme 2). The preparation of 10 was also attempted directly from the malonic acid mono‐ester 6 under Bingel conditions. Surprisingly, the corresponding 3′‐iodo‐3′H‐cyclopropa[1,9][5,6]fullerene‐C₆₀‐I_h‐3′‐carboxylate 11 was formed instead of 10 (Scheme 3). The general character of this new reaction was confirmed by the preparation of 15 and 16 from the malonic acid mono‐esters 13 and 14 , respectively (Scheme 4). All the other amphiphilic fullerene derivatives were prepared by taking advantage of the versatile regioselective reaction developed by Diederich and co‐workers which led to macrocyclic bis‐adducts of C₆₀ by a cyclization reaction at the C‐sphere with bis‐malonate derivatives in a double Bingel cyclopropanation. The bis‐adducts 37 – 39 with a carboxylic acid polar head group and four pendant long alkyl chains of different length were prepared from diol 22 and acids 5 – 7 , respectively (Scheme 9). In addition, the amphiphilic fullerene derivatives 45, 46, 49, 54 , and 55 bearing different polar head groups and compound 19 with no polar head group were synthesized (Schemes 11–13, 15, and 5, resp.). The ability of all these compounds to form Langmuir monolayers at the air‐water interface was investigated in a systematic study. The films at the water surface were characterized by their surface pressure vs. molecular area isotherms, compression and expansion cycles, and Brewster‐angle microscopy. The spreading behavior of compound 10 was not good, the two long alkyl chains in 10 being insufficient to prevent aggregation resulting from the strong fullerene‐fullerene interactions. While no films could be obtained from compound 19 with no polar head group, all the corresponding amphiphilic fullerene bis‐adducts showed good spreading characteristics and reversible behavior upon successive compression/expansion cycles. The encapsulation of the fullerene in a cyclic addend surrounded by four long alkyl chains is, therefore, an efficient strategy to prevent the irreversible aggregation resulting from strong fullerene‐fullerene interactions usually observed for amphiphilic C₆₀ derivatives at the air‐water interface. The balance of hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity was modulated by changing the length of the surrounding alkyl chains or the nature of the polar head group. The best results in terms of film formation and stability were obtained with the compounds having the largest polar head group, i.e. 45 and 46 , and dodecyl chains. Finally, the Langmuir films obtained from the amphiphilic fullerene bis‐adducts were transferred onto solid substrates, yielding high‐quality Langmuir‐Blodgett films.     

Regioselective One‐Step Synthesis and Topological Chirality of trans‐3, trans‐3,trans‐3 and e,e,e [60]Fullerene‐Cyclotriveratrylene Tris‐adducts: Discussion on a Topological meso‐Form

The C₃‐symmetrical [60]fullerene‐cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) tris‐adducts (±)‐ 1 (with a trans‐3,trans‐3,trans‐3 addition pattern) and (±)‐ 2 (with an e,e,e addition pattern) were prepared in 11 and 9% yield, respectively, by the regio‐ and diastereoselective tether‐directed Bingel reaction of C₆₀ with the tris‐malonate‐appended CTV derivative (±)‐ 3 (Scheme). This is the first example for tris‐adduct formation by a one‐step tether‐directed Bingel addition. Interchromophoric interactions between the electron‐rich CTV cap and the electron‐attracting fullerene moiety have a profound effect on the electrochemical behavior of the C‐sphere (Fig. 4 and Table 1). The fullerene‐centered first reduction potentials in compounds (±)‐ 1 and (±)‐ 2 are by 100 mV more negative than those of their corresponding tris[bis(ethoxycarbonyl)methano][60]fullerene analogs that lack the CTV cap. A particular interest in (±)‐ 1 and (±)‐ 2 arises from the topological chirality of these molecules. A complete topology study is presented, leading to the conclusion that the four possible classical stereoisomers of the e,e,e regioisomer are topologically different, and, therefore, there exist four different topological stereoisomers (Fig. 6). Interestingly, in the case of the trans‐3,trans‐3,trans‐3 tris‐adduct, there are four classical stereoisomers but only two topological stereoisomers (Fig. 7). An example of a target molecule representing a topological meso‐form is also presented (Fig. 8).     

Retro-Bingel reaction in the electrochemical reduction of bis(dialkoxyphosphoryl)methanofullerenes

Four steps of reduction were detected for bis(diethoxyphosphoryl)- and bis(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)methano[60]fullerenes (1, 2) and bis(diethoxyphosphoryl)methano[70]fullerene (3) by cyclic voltammetry in the o-dichlorobenzene—DMF (3 : 1, v/v)/Bu₄NBF₄ (0.1 mol L^–1) system on a glass-carbon electrode. At the first step the reversible transfer of one electron affords stable radical anions 1 and 2 (g = 1.9999, H = 1.9 G). When two electrons per molecule are transferred, the methano fragment is rapidly eliminated (retro-Bingel reaction). This process involves the step-by-step cleavage of two C—C bonds of exo-carbon with the fullerene shell in combination with the stepwise transfer of other two electrons and a proton to form finally the carbanion of the methano fragment and fullerene dianion. For all studied compounds, the elimination rate is much higher than that for bis(alkoxycarbonyl)- and dialkoxyphosphoryl(alkoxycarbonyl)methano[60]fullerenes, which makes it possible to propose bisphosphorylmethane groups as protective in synthesis of new fullerene derivatives.     

Bis- through Tetrakis-Adducts of C60 by Reversible Tether-Directed Remote Functionalization and systematic investigation of the changes in fullerene properties as a function of degree,pattern, and nature of functionalization

By the tether-directed remote functionalization method, a series of bis- to hexakis-adducts of C₆₀, i.e., 1 – 7 (Fig. 1), had previously been prepared with high regioselectivity. An efficient method for the removal of the tether-reactive-group conjugate was now developed and its utility demonstrated in the regioselective synthesis of bis- to tetrakis(methano)fullerenes ( = di- to tetracyclopropafullerenes-C₆₀-I_h) 9 – 11 starting from 4, 5, and 7, respectively (Schemes 2, 4, and 5). This versatile protocol consists of a ¹O₂ ene reaction with the two cyclohexene rings in the starting materials, reduction of the formed mixture of isomeric allylic hydroperoxides to the corresponding alcohols, acid-promoted elimination of H₂O to cyclohexa-1,3-dienes, Diels-Alder addition of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, retro-Diels-Alder addition, and, ultimately, transesterification. In the series 9 – 11 , all methano moieties are attached along an equatorial belt of the fullerene. Starting from C_2v-symmetrical tetrakis-adduct 15 , transesterification with dodecan-1-ol or octan-1-ol yielded the octaesters 16 and 17 , respectively, as noncrystalline fullerene derivatives (Scheme 3). The X-ray crystal structure of a CHCl₃ solvate of 11 (Fig. 3) showed that the residual conjugated π-chromophore of the C-sphere is reduced to two tetrabenzopyracylene substructures connected by four biphenyl-type bonds (Fig. 5). In the eight six-membered rings surrounding the two pyracylene (= cyclopent[fg]acenaphthylene) moieties, 6–6 and 6–5 bond-length alteration (0.05 Å) was reduced by ca. 0.01 Å as compared to the free C₆₀ skeleton (0.06 Å) (Fig. 4). The crystal packing (Fig. 6) revealed short contacts between Cl-atoms of the solvent molecule and sp²- and sp³-C-atoms of the C-sphere, as well as short contacts between Cl-atoms and O-atoms of the EtOOC groups attached to the methano moieties of 11 . The physical properties and chemical reactivity of compounds 1 - 11 were comprehensively investigated as a function of degree and pattern of addition and the nature of the addends. Methods applied to this study were UV/VIS (Figs. 7–11), IR, and NMR spectroscopy (Table 2), cyclic (CV) and steady-state (SSV) voltammetry (Table 1), calculations of the energies of the lowest uunoccupied mmolecular orbitals (LUMOs) and electron affinities (Figs. 12 and 13), and evaluation of chemical reactivity in competition experiments. It was found that the properties of the fullerene derivatives were not only affected by the degree and pattern of addition but also, in a remarkable way, by the nature of the addends (methano vs. but-2-ene-1, 4-diyl) anellated to the C-sphere. Attachment of multiple thano moieties along an equatorial belt as in the series 8 – 11 induces only a small perturbation of the original fullerene π-chromophore. In general, with increasing attenuation of the conjugated fullerene π-chromophore, the optical (HOMO-LUMO) gap in the UV/VIS spectrum is shifted to higher energy, the number of reversible one-electron reductions decreases, and the first reduction potential becomes increasingly negative, the computed LUMO energy increases and the electron affinity decreases, and the reactivity of the fullerene towards nucleophiles and carbenes and as dienophile in cycloadditions decreases.     

Electrochemical synthesis of carbonyl- and phosphoryl-containing methano[60]fullerenes

The combined electrochemical reduction of fullerene C₆₀ in the presence of p-bromo-benzoyldibromomethane or bis(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)dibromomethane at a brass electrode in a mixed solvent o-dichlorobenzene-MeCN (3:1 v/v)/0.05 M Bu₄NBF₄ at room temperature affords 61-(p-bromobenzoyl)methano[60]fullerene or 61,61-bis(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)methano[60]fullerene, respectively, in 50% yields.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2681–2685, December, 2004.     

Rate constants for addition of the OP·(OPri)2, Me3C·, and Me(CH2)3 ·CH2 radicals to methano[60]fullerenes C60CX1X2 (X1 = X2 = CO2Et; X1 = CO2Me,X2 = OP(OMe)2; X1 = X2 = OP(OEt)2)

The rate constants for the addition of the OP^·(OPrⁱ)₂, Me₃C^·, and Me(CH₂)₃ ^·CH₂ radicals to the methano[60]fullerenes C₆₀CX¹X² (X¹ = X² = CO₂Et; X¹ = CO₂Me, X² = OP(OMe)2; X¹ = X² = OP(OEt)₂) were determined by ESR spectroscopy. Methanofullerenes are more reactive toward these radicals than C₆₀ fullerene.     

The use of solid phase synthesis for the preparation of monoadducts of fullerene C60

The method of solid phase synthesis was proposed for the preparation of monoadducts of fullerene C₆₀ using 3′H-cyclopropa[1,9](C₆₀-I _h )[5,6]fullerene-3′-carboxylic acid as an example.     

Thermochemistry of C60 and C70 fullerene solvates

In an effort to improve understanding of dissolution behaviour of fullerenes and their simple chemical derivatives the binary systems of C₆₀, C₇₀ and the piperazine monoadduct of [60] fullerene C₆₀ N₂C₄H₈ with a series of aromatic solvents have been studied by means of DSC. In certain systems solid solvates have been found to be the thermodynamically stable phases relative to saturated solution at room temperature. Identified solid solvates were characterized by their compositions, temperatures and enthalpies of incongruent melting transitions. The regularities in thermodynamic stability of the solvated crystals have been discussed along with dissolution properties of fullerenes and the derivative. Certain correlations have been observed.     

Phosphorylated azahomo[60]fullerene: synthesis and electrochemical properties

A reaction of [60]fullerene with O,O-dibutyl azidophosphate affords a first representative of phosphorylated azahomo[60]fullerenes, which is easier to reduce electrochemically than the starting C₆₀.     

Synthesis,Separation, and Characterization of Optically Pure C76 Mono-Adducts

Nucleophilic Bingel cyclopropanation of D₂-C₇₆ with bis[(S)-1-phenylbutyl] 2-bromomalonate in toluene in the presence of base yielded three constitutionally isomeric pairs of diastereoisomeric mono-adducts together with one other constitutional isomer. All seven mono-adducts were isolated in optically pure form by prep. HPLC on a (S,S)-Whelk-O1 chiral stationary phase. They represent the first optically pure adducts of an inherently chiral fullerene. Characterization by UV/VIS, CD, ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy allowed identification of pairs of stereoisomers and symmetry assignments: the two pairs of diastereoisomers which were isolated as the major product possess C₁ symmetry, whereas the third pair of diastereoisomers, which is a minor product, is C₂-symmetrical. The circular dichroism spectra of the optically active C₇₆-adducts showed very pronounced Cotton effects resulting from strong chiroptical contributions of the chiral fullerene chromophore with the maximum observed Δε values being twice as high than those previously measured for optically active adducts of achiral fullerenes with a chiral addition pattern. Whereas the regioselectivity of mono-additions to C₇₀ correlates with the degree of local bond curvature and the regioselectivity of multiple Bingel cyclopropanations of C₆₀ with electronic parameters such as coefficients of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), no such simple predictive correlations exist for the nucleophilic addition to C₇₆. Despite full spectral characterization, an unambiguous structural assignment of the isolated compounds was not possible, except for the two C₂-symmetrical isomers. Based on considerations of local bond curvature and the previous experiences with the chemistry of C₇₀, the structures of the C₂-symmetrical stereoisomers were assigned as (S,S,^fC)- 3 and (S,S,^fA)- 3 , resulting from addition to the polar α-type C(1)? C(6) bond.     

Distribution of C60 and C70 fullerenes in the extraction system (C60 + C70)-α-pinene-ethanol-H2O

The distribution of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes in the extraction system (C₆₀ + C₇₀)-α-pinene-ethanol-H₂O was studied at constant C₆₀ to C₇₀ ratio and variable total fullerene concentration at 25°C. The relationship between the C₆₀ and C₇₀ content in ethanol (I) and α-pinene (II) phases is nonlinear over the entire fullerene concentration range.     

Oligoporphyrin Arrays Conjugated to [60]Fullerene: Preparation,NMR Analysis,and Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties

We report the synthesis and physical properties of novel fullerene–oligoporphyrin dyads. In these systems, the C‐spheres are singly linked to the terminal tetrapyrrolic macrocycles of rod‐like meso,meso‐linked or triply‐linked oligoporphyrin arrays. Monofullerene–mono(Zn^II porphyrin) conjugate 3 was synthesized to establish a general protocol for the preparation of the target molecules (Scheme 1). The synthesis of the meso,meso‐linked oligopophyrin–bisfullerene conjugates 4 – 6 , extending in size up to 4.1 nm ( 6 ), was accomplished by functionalization (iodination followed by Suzuki cross‐coupling) of the two free meso‐positions in oligomers 21 – 23 (Schemes 2 and 3). The attractive interactions between a fullerene and a Zn^II porphyrin chromophore in these dyads was quantified as ΔG=−3.3 kcal mol⁻¹ by variable‐temperature (VT) ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy (Table 1). As a result of this interaction, the C‐spheres adopt a close tangential orientation relative to the plane of the adjacent porphyrin nucleus, as was unambiguously established by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR (Figs. 9 and 10), and UV/VIS spectroscopy (Figs. 13–15). The synthesis of triply‐linked diporphyrin–bis[60]fullerene conjugate 8 was accomplished by Bingel cyclopropanation of bis‐malonate 45 with two C₆₀ molecules (Scheme 5). Contrary to the meso,meso‐linked systems 4 – 6 , only a weak chromophoric interaction was observed for 8 by UV/VIS spectroscopy (Fig. 16 and Table 2), and the ¹H‐NMR spectra did not provide any evidence for distinct orientational preferences of the C‐spheres. Comprehensive steady‐state and time‐resolved UV/VIS absorption and emission studies demonstrated that the photophysical properties of 8 differ completely from those of 4 – 6 and the many other known porphyrin–fullerene dyads: photoexcitation of the methano[60]fullerene moieties results in quantitative sensitization of the lowest singlet level of the porphyrin tape, which is low‐lying and very short lived. The meso,meso‐linked oligoporphyrins exhibit ¹O₂ sensitization capability, whereas the triply‐fused systems are unable to sensitize the formation of ¹O₂ because of the low energy content of their lowest excited states (Fig. 18). Electrochemical investigations (Table 3, and Figs. 19 and 20) revealed that all oligoporphyrin arrays, with or without appended methano[60]fullerene moieties, have an exceptional multicharge storage capacity due to the large number of electrons that can be reversibly exchanged. Some of the Zn^II porphyrins prepared in this study form infinite, one‐dimensional supramolecular networks in the solid state, in which the macrocycles interact with each other either through H‐bonding or metal ion coordination (Figs. 6 and 7).     

Near-Infrared-Absorbing Chiral Open [60]Fullerenes

Though [60]fullerene is an achiral molecular nanocarbon with I_h symmetry, it could attain an inherent chirality depending upon a functionalization pattern. The conventional chiral induction of C₆₀ relies mainly upon a multiple addition affording a mixture of achiral and chiral isomers while their chiral function would be largely offset by the existence of pseudo-mirror plane(s). These are major obstacles to proceed further study on fullerene chirality and yet leave its understanding elusive. Herein, we showcase a carbene-mediated synthesis of C₁-symmetric chiral open [60]fullerenes showing an intense far-red to near-infrared absorption. The large dissymmetry factor of |g_abs|=0.12 was achieved at λ=820 nm for circular dichroism in benzonitrile. This is, in general, unachievable by other small chiral organic molecules, demonstrating the potential usage of open [60]fullerenes as novel types of chiral chromophores.     

Regioselective synthesis of tetra(aryl)-mono(silylmethyl)[60]fullerenes and derivatization to methanofullerene compound

A method for the facile synthesis of tetraaryl-trimethylsilylmethyl-hydro[60]fullerenes, C₆₀Ar₄(CH₂SiMeR)H, has been developed in which readily prepared anionic mono(silylmethyl) fullerene is subjected to reaction conditions for organocopper-mediated multiple addition. Penta(organo)fullerene derivatives bearing different substituents and diverse functionality were synthesized in moderate to good yield under simple and mild reaction conditions. Further organic and organometallic transformations of these fullerenes allowed us to synthesize transition-metal complexes and a new methanofullerene derivative, 1,9-methano-6,12,15,18-tetraphenyl[60]fullerene, C₆₀Ph₄(CH₂).     

Cycloaddition of diazothioates to [60]fullerene

The cycloaddition of diazothioates to fullerene C₆₀ has been investigated under thermal and catalytic conditions. The reaction between C₆₀ and α-non-substituted diazothioates affords individual pyrazolino[60]fullerenes in contrast to 2-substituted diazothioates which give rise to [2+1] cycloadducts, exclusively.