Polypyrroles as antioxidants: kinetic studies on reactions of bilirubin and biliverdin dimethyl esters and synthetic model compounds with peroxyl radicals in solution. Chemical calculations on selected typical structures

[reaction: see text] Rate constants for hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) from bilirubin dimethyl ester (BRDE) and biliverdin dimethyl ester (BVDE) to peroxyl radicals during inhibited autoxidation of styrene initiated by azo-bisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were k(inh)(BRDE) = 22.5 x 10(4) and k(inh)(BVDE) = 10.2 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), and the stoichiometric factors (n) were 2.0 and 2.7, respectively. A synthetic tetrapyrrole (bis(dipyrromethene)) containing the alpha-central (2,2') CH2 linkage gave k(inh) = 39.9 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) and n = 2.3, whereas the beta-linked (3,3') isomer was not an active antioxidant. Several dipyrrinones were synthesized as mimics of the two outer heterocyclic rings of bilirubin and biliverdin. The dipyrrinones containing N-H groups in each ring were active antioxidants, whereas those lacking two such "free" N-H groups, such as N-CH3 dipyrrinones and dipyrromethenes, did not exhibit antioxidant activity. Overall, the relative k(inh) values compared to those of phenolic antioxidants, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol (DBHA) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), were 2,2'-bis(dipyrromethene) > BRDE > DBHA > dipyrrinones > BVDE > BHT. This general trend in antioxidant activities was also observed for the inhibited autoxidation of cumene initiated by AIBN. Chemical calculations of the N-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of the typical structures support a HAT mechanism from N-H groups to trap peroxyl radicals. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding of intermediate nitrogen radicals has a major influence on the antioxidant activities of all compounds studied. Indeed, chemical calculations showed that the initial nitrogen radical from a dipyrrinone is stabilized by 9.0 kcal/mol because of H-bonding between the N-H remaining on one ring and the ground-state pyrrolyl radical of the adjacent ring in the natural zusammen structure. The calculated minimum structure of bilirubin shows strong intramolecular H-bonding of the N-H groups with carbonyl groups resulting in the known "ridge-tile" structure which is not an active HAT antioxidant. The calculated minimum structure of biliverdin is planar. BRDE is readily converted into BVDE by reaction with the electron-deficient DPPH* radical under argon in chlorobenzene. An electron-transfer mechanism is proposed for the initiating step in this reaction, and this is supported by the relatively low ionizing potential of a model dipyrrole representing the two central rings of bilirubin.     

Kinetics and structure-activity relationship of dendritic bridged hindered phenol antioxidants to protect styrene against free radical induced peroxidation

A series of dendritic poly(amido-amine) (PAMAM) bridged hindered phenols antioxidants were synthesized. The active antioxidant group (3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid) was attached to two generations of PAMAM dendrimers, and their structure was verified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR). The antioxidant abilities of the dendritic phenols to inhibit the oxidation of styrene were evaluated and the relationships between the length of core, the generation of dendrimers and the antioxidant activities were established. The reaction kinetics of scavenging peroxyl radicals was followed by oxygen consumption. The inhibition time (t_inh) values showed the dendritic phenols had the ability of scavenging peroxyl radicals, and that the antioxidant ability increased with the increasing length of the core and the generation. The kinetic analysis demonstrated that dendritic phenols could slow the rate of styrene peroxidation induced by AIBN, as shown by the number of trapping ROO· (n), and this role was in accordance with that of the t_inh values.     

DFT investigation on some nitrogen-doped fullerenes with more antiradical and antioxidant activities than C60

Structural Chemistry - Although fullerene C60 is a strong scavenger for alkyl radicals, it is insusceptible toward peroxyl radicals. Substitution of carbon atoms in the fullerene cage by...     

Theoretical calculations of carbon-oxygen bond dissociation enthalpies of peroxyl radicals formed in the autoxidation of lipids

Theoretical calculations were carried out to provide a framework for understanding the free radical oxidation of unsaturated lipids. The carbon[bond]hydrogen bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of organic model compounds and oxidizable lipids (R[bond]H) and the carbon[bond]oxygen bond dissociation enthalpies of peroxyl radical intermediates (R[bond]OO*) have been calculated. The carbon[bond]hydrogen BDEs correlate with the rate constant for propagation of free radical autoxidation, and the carbon[bond]oxygen BDEs of peroxyl radicals correlate with rate constants for beta-fragmentation of these intermediates. Oxygen addition to intermediate carbon radicals apparently occurs preferentially at centers having the highest spin density. The calculated spin distribution therefore provides guidance about the partitioning of oxygen to delocalized carbon radicals. Where the C[bond]H BDEs are a function of the extent of conjugation in the parent lipid and the stability of the carbon radical derived therefrom, C[bond]OO* BDEs are also affected by hyperconjugation. This gives way to different rates of beta-fragmentation of peroxyl radicals formed from oxygen addition at different sites along the same delocalized radical. We have also studied by both theory and experiment the propensity for benzylic radicals to undergo oxygen addition at their ortho and para carbons which, combined, possess an equivalent unpaired electron spin density as the benzylic position itself. We find that the intermediate peroxyl radicals in these cases have negative C[bond]OO* BDEs and, thus, have rate constants for beta-fragmentation that exceed the diffusion-controlled limit for the reaction of a carbon-centered radical with oxygen.     

The effect of ring nitrogen atoms on the homolytic reactivity of phenolic compounds: understanding the radical-scavenging ability of 5-pyrimidinols

Six substituted 5-pyrimidinols were synthesized, and the thermochemistry and kinetics of their reactions with free radicals were studied and compared to those of equivalently substituted phenols. To assess their potential as hydrogen-atom donors to free radicals, we measured their O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) using the radical equilibration electron paramagnetic resonance technique. This revealed that the O-H BDEs in 5-pyrimidinols are, on average, about 2.5 kcal mol(-1) higher than those in equivalently substituted phenols. The results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions, and confirm that substituent effects on the O-H BDE of 5-pyrimidinol are essentially the same as those on the Obond;H BDE in phenol. The kinetics of the reactions of these compounds with peroxyl radicals has been studied by their inhibition of the AIBN-initiated autoxidation of styrene, and with alkyl and alkoxyl radicals by competition kinetics. Despite their larger O-H BDEs, 5-pyrimidinols appear to transfer their phenolic hydrogen-atom to peroxyl radicals as quickly as equivalently substituted phenols, while their reactivity toward alkyl radicals far exceeds that of the corresponding phenols. We suggest that this rate enhancement, which is large in the case of alkyl radical reactions, small in the case of peroxyl radical reactions, and nonexistent in the case of alkoxyl radical reactions, is due to polar effects in the transition states of these atom-transfer reactions. This hypothesis is supported by additional experimental and theoretical results. Despite this higher reactivity of 5-pyrimidinols towards radicals compared to phenols, electrochemical measurements indicate that they are more stable to one-electron oxidation than equivalently substituted phenols. For example, the 5-pyrimidinol analogues of 2,4,6-trimethylphenol and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were found to have oxidation potentials approximately 400 mV higher than their phenolic counterparts, but reacted roughly one order of magnitude faster with alkyl radicals and at about the same rate with peroxyl radicals. The 5-pyrimidinol structure should, therefore, serve as a useful template for the rational design of novel air-stable radical scavengers and chain-breaking antioxidants that are more effective than phenols.     

Electrophilic substitution of C60F18 into phenols: HF elimination between OH and a 1,3-shifted fluorine giving benzofurano[2',3':10,26]hexadecafluro[60]fullerene and derivatives

The reaction of C60F18 with phenol, 2-naphthol and quinol in the presence of ferric chloride leads to initial electrophilic substitution (aryldefluorination). This occurs at both ortho and para positions for phenol, at the ortho position for quinol, and at the relatively hindered but most reactive 1-position for 2-naphthol. It is followed, where sterically favourable, by HF loss either between the OH group and F (rendered adjacent as a result of a 1,3-shift) or to attack of the OH group at an adjacent double bond with loss of a beta-fluorine, giving benzofurano[2',3':10,26]hexadecafluoro[60]fullerene derivatives. The reaction is accompanied by some complete defluorination leading, in reaction with phenol and with 2-naphthol, to the formation of benzofurano[2',3':1,2][60]fullerene and naphtho[2,1:b]furano[d:1,2][60]-fullerene, respectively. The mechanism of base-catalysed reaction of phenols with C60Cl6 is re-evaluated.     

Thermochemical and kinetic studies of a bisphenol antioxidant

The results of a thermodynamic and kinetic investigation on the homolytic reactivity of 3,3'-di-tert-butyl-5,5'-dimethyl(1,1'-biphenyl)-2,2'-diol (1) are reported. EPR studies of the equilibration between 1, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, and the corresponding radicals obtained by abstraction of a hydroxylic hydrogen allowed us to determine the OH bond dissociation energy (BDE) of investigated bisphenol as 83.10 kcal/mol. This value is considerably larger than that reported for the structurally related 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), i.e., 81.02 kcal/mol. Absolute rate constants for the reaction of 1 with alkyl, alkoxyl, and peroxyl radicals, at or nearly to room temperature, were also determined by competition kinetics in the first two cases and by autoxidation studies under controlled conditions in the last one. The experimental data indicate that this bisphenol is a moderately efficient antioxidant and polymerization inhibitor.     

A new method to study antioxidant capability: hydrogen transfer from phenols to a prefluorescent nitroxide

[reaction: see text]. Rate constants for hydrogen abstraction from phenols by a prefluorescent-TEMPO probe are reported. The nitroxide is employed as a potential model of peroxyl radicals. The probe works by nitroxide suppression of the fluorescence of the chromophore. The fluorescence is restored when the nitroxide abstracts a hydrogen atom to produce the diamagnetic hydroxylamine. The phenols studied in this project exhibited rate constants between 0.003 and 0.2 M(-1) s(-1). A deuterium isotope effect of 10 for TROLOX confirms that the mechanism is dominated by hydrogen transfer.     

OH radical oxidation of the sorbitylfurfural furanic ring to sugar derivatives induced by radiolysis in aerobic environment

Chemical radiolytic oxidation induced by OH addition on 1-(2-furan-2-yl-5-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-[1,3]dioxan-4-yl)-ethan-1,2-diol (sorbitylfurfural, SF) leads, in the presence of controlled amounts of oxygen, to a permanent functional modification of the target molecule. The yield of conversion reaches 60% of the starting material. LC-MS analysis allowed the identification, as final products, of carboxylic acids, butenal and hydroxy-furan derivatives in which the sugar chain remains unbroken, while the furanic ring is attacked first by OH and then by oxygen, giving in succession an intra-/inter-molecular rearrangement of the allylperoxyl radicals thus formed. The proposed oxidation of the furanic ring envisages the peroxyl intermediates undergoing mono- and/or bi-molecular reactions; a reaction path has been outlined and is reported here. The presence of unsaturated bonds in the final products could provide a further site for radical scavenger activity. Therefore, the fast reaction with O₂ and the rearrangement of the produced peroxyl radicals to species, which are likely to be effective OH-capturers, reinforces the antioxidant ability of SF.     

Reaction of [60]fullerene with free radicals generated from active methylene compounds by manganese(III) acetate dihydrate

The reaction of [60]fullerene with dimethyl malonate and diethyl malonate in the presence of manganese(III) acetate dihydrate (Mn(OAc)3.2H2O) for 20 min afforded singly bonded [60]fullerene dimers 1a and 1b in a 1,4-addition pattern. When the reaction time was extended to 1 h, 1,4-bisadducts 2a and 2b were obtained. Unsymmetrical 1,4-adduct 5 and C2 symmetrical 1,16-bisadduct 6 were obtained when diethyl bromomalonate was used as the active methylene compound. Reaction of [60]fullerene with malononitrile and ethyl cyanoacetate with the aid of Mn(OAc)3.2H2O produced methanofullerenes 7 and 8. It is proposed that all these products were formed the addition of free radicals from the active methylene compounds generated by Mn(OAc)3.2H2O.     

黄酮类化合物与α-羟乙基过氧自由基反应的脉冲辐解研究

由于脂质过氧化反应(LPO)是导致人体疾病(如肝炎、肝硬化、动脉硬化、脑溢血等)的主要原因, 而黄酮类化合物是一类很强的过氧化反应抑制剂, 因此有必要研究其化学结构与过氧化反应的关系及其抗氧化机理.本文选择α-羟乙基过氧自由基为脂质过氧自由基的模拟物, 采用脉冲辐解方法研究了乙醇溶液中4种典型的黄酮类化合物(槲皮素、芦丁、儿茶素以及黄岑甙)与α-羟乙基过氧自由基的反应动力学, 测得其反应活性顺序为:芦丁>槲皮素>黄岑甙>儿茶素. 同时以黄酮体和邻苯二酚为黄酮类化合物不同结构特征的模型化合物, 用脉冲辐解法测得二者与α-羟乙基过氧自由基的反应速率常数分别为(1.7±0.1)×10⁶和(2.9±0.1)×10⁵ mol^-1·dm³·s^-1.实验结果表明, 在黄酮类化合物与α-羟乙基过氧自由基的反应中, A环C₅位的羟基, C环C₂＝C₃或B-C环的大π键和B环邻二羟基共存时清除α-羟乙基过氧自由基活性最好, 而且C环C₂＝C₃或B-C环大π键的清除活性好于B环邻二羟基, 同时C环是否含有C₃-醣甙结构对清除作用没有明显影响. 因此我们推测在黄酮类化合物抑制脂质过氧化反应过程中, 起主要作用的是C环C₂＝C₃或B-C环的大π键与脂质过氧自由基的双键加成反应.     

Iodo-controlled selective formation of pyrrolidino[60]fullerene and aziridino[60]fullerene from the reaction between C6) and amino acid esters

The reaction between glycine methyl ester and C60 can be effectively controlled by different iodo-reagents. Addition of DIB ((diacetoxyiodo)benzene) yields the 2,5-bismethoxycarbonyl pyrrolidino[60]fullerene under ultrasonic irradiation; whereas addition of DIB-iodine results in the N-methoxycarbonylmethyl aziridino[60]fullerene under ultrasonic irradiation. The reaction of sarcosine methyl ester with C60 is similar to that of glycine methyl ester under these two conditions. Addition of just iodine to a mixture of sarcosine methyl ester and C60 affords the tetra(amino)[60]fullerene epoxide C60(O)((Me)NCH2COOMe)4. Possible mechanisms are discussed.     

The unusual reaction of semiquinone radicals with molecular oxygen

Hydroquinones (benzene-1,4-diols) are naturally occurring chain-breaking antioxidants, whose reactions with peroxyl radicals yield 1,4-semiquinone radicals. Unlike the 1,2-semiquinone radicals derived from catechols (benzene-1,2-diols), the 1,4-semiquinone radicals do not always trap another peroxyl radical, and instead the stoichiometric factor of hydroquinones varies widely between 0 and 2 as a function of ring-substitution and reaction conditions. This variable antioxidant behavior has been attributed to the competing reaction of the 1,4-semiquinone radical with molecular oxygen. Herein we report the results of experiments and theoretical calculations focused on understanding this key reaction. Our experiments, which include detailed kinetic and mechanistic investigations by laser flash photolysis and inhibited autoxidation studies, and our theoretical calculations, which include detailed studies of the reactions of both 1,4-semiquinones and 1,2-semiquinones with O2, provide many important insights. They show that the reaction of O2 with 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-semiquinone radical (used as model compound) has a rate constant of 2.4 +/- 0.9 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 in acetonitrile and as high as 2.0 +/- 0.9 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 in chlorobenzene, i.e., similar to that previously reported in water at pH approximately 7. These results, considered alongside our theoretical calculations, suggest that the reaction occurs by an unusual hydrogen atom abstraction mechanism, taking place in a two-step process consisting first of addition of O2 to the semiquinone radical and second an intramolecular H-atom transfer concerted with elimination of hydroperoxyl to yield the quinone. This reaction appears to be much more facile for 1,4-semiquinones than for their 1,2-isomers.     

Cyclohexadienone diazeniumdiolates from nitric oxide addition to phenolates

Sterically hindered phenols react with nitric oxide under basic condititons to give either cyclohexadienone diazeniumdiolates or oximates. Phenols with 2,6-di-tert-butyl and 4-methyl (butylated hydroxy toluene, BHT), 4-ethyl, or 4-methoxy methylene substituents yield the corresponding 2,6-di-tert-butyl-2, 5-cyclohexadienone-4-alkyl-4-diazeniumdiolate salts (4-methyl 1a, 4-ethyl 3a, 4-methoxymethylene 5a). Phenols with 2,6-di-tert-butyl and 4-methylene (2,6-di-tert-butylphenol) substituents yield 4-methoxymethylenediazeniumdiolate (5a) together with 2, 6-di-tert-butyl benzoquinone oximate (6a), while phenols with 2, 6-di-tert-butyl and 4-methylenedimethylamino or hydrogen substituents yield exclusively 2,6-di-tert-butyl benzoquinone oximate (6a). Alkylation of the silver salts of 1a, or treating the O(2)-protonated diazeniumdiolate with diazomethane, both yield mixtures of O(1)- and O(2)-methylated isomers. All the compounds exhibit exothermic thermal decomposition except the quinuclidinium (1e, 3e, 5e) and triethylenediammonium (1f) salts which decompose endothermically. Three of the compounds namely "O(2)-protonated" (Z)-1-[4-(2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-cyclohexadienonyl)]diazen-1-ium+ ++-1, 2-diolinic acid (1b), O(2)-methyl (Z)-1-[4-(2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-cyclohexadienonyl)]diazen-1-ium+ ++-1,2-diolate (1c), and "O(2)-protonated" (Z)-1-[4-(2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxymethylenecyclohexadienonyl)]diazen- 1-ium-1, 2-diolinic acid (5b) were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The diazeniumdiolate framework in all the structures is coplanar with considerable pi-bonding delocalized over the O-N-N-O framework.     

Addition of tetrahydrofuran to [60]fullerene through C-H bond activation induced by arylzinc reagents

The reaction of [60]fullerene with an arylzinc halide in a mixture of THF and DMF produces a mono(2-tetrahydrofuranyl) adduct of [60]fullerene C60(C4H7O)H instead of the expected arylated fullerene. The reaction involves a C-H bond activation at the 2-position of THF that probably takes place through a radical mechanism. In the presence of a copper(I) complex, the reaction does not stop at the stage of mono-addition, with the aryl group of the zinc reagent adding four times regioselectively to the mono(2-tetrahydrofuranyl) adduct to produce a penta-adduct C60Ar4(C4H7O)H. This product can be converted further to the corresponding buckyferrocene Fe[C60Ar4(C4H7O)]Cp and its derivatives.     

Antioxidant activity of the new thiosulfinate derivative, S-benzyl phenylmethanethiosulfinate, from Petiveria alliacea L

The antioxidant effects of the new thiosulfinate derivative, S-benzyl phenylmethanethiosulfinate (BPT), against the oxidation of cumene and methyl linoleate (ML) in chlorobenzene were studied in detail using HPLC. The results showed that BPT provided effective inhibition with a well-defined induction period under these oxidation conditions, and it was found that the stoichiometric factor (n), the number of peroxyl radicals trapped by one antioxidant molecule, of BPT is about 2. We then undertook a thorough investigation aimed at elucidating the active structural site of BPT. Various model compounds, such as diphenyl disulfide, dibenzyl disulfide, S-phenyl benzenethiosulfinate and S-ethyl phenylmethanethiosulfinate, were used which provided evidence that the benzylic hydrogen of BPT is mainly associated with the peroxyl radical scavenging. Moreover, we measured the rate constant for the reaction of BPT with peroxyl radicals derived from cumene and ML in chlorobenzene, and based on these measurements, BPT reacts with these peroxyl radicals with a rate constant of k(inh) = 8.6 x 10(3) and 6.2 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), respectively.     

Antioxidant activity of olive phenols: mechanistic investigation and characterization of oxidation products by mass spectrometry

In this work, the antioxidant activity of olive phenols is first characterized by their stoichiometries n(tot)(number of radicals trapped per antioxidant molecule) and their rate constants for the first H-atom abstraction k(1) by the stable radical DPPH. It appears that oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and caffeic acid have the largest k(1) values, whereas dihydrocaffeic acid, an intestinal metabolite of caffeic acid, is the best antioxidant in terms of n(tot). For phenols with a catechol moiety n(tot) is higher than two, implying an antioxidant effect of their primarily formed oxidation products. A HPLC-MS analysis of the main products formed in the AAPH-induced oxidation of olive phenols reveals the presence of dimers and trimers. With hydroxytyrosol and dihydrocaffeic acid, oligomerization can take place with the addition of water molecules.The antioxidant activity of olive phenols is then evaluated by their ability to inhibit the AAPH-induced peroxidation of linoleic acid in SDS micelles. It is shown that olive phenols and quercetin act as retardants rather than chain breakers like alpha-tocopherol. From a detailed mechanistic investigation, it appears that the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by olive phenols can be satisfactorily interpreted by assuming that they essentially reduce the AAPH-derived initiating radicals. Overall, olive phenols prove to be efficient scavengers of hydrophilic peroxyl radicals with a long lasting antioxidant effect owing to the residual activity of some of their oxidation products.     

Synthesis of two pentaarylated [60]fullerene derivatives Ar_5C_(60)-H (Ar = p-MeC_6H_4, m-MeC_6H_4) and their novel electrochemical properties

Through one pot reaction of C60 with organocopper/magne-sium reagent ( p - MeQ H4 )2 CuMgBr or ( m - MeC6 H )2 -CuMgBr prepared from CuBr-Me2S and p-MeC6H4MgBr or m-MeC6H4MgBr and subsequent quenching with aqueous NH4Cl, two pentaarylated [60] fullerene derivatives (p-MeC6H4)5C60H (1) and (m-MeC6H4)5C60H (2) have been synthesized in 94% and 96% yields, respectively. While known compound 1 prepared via this improved method is unambiguously identified, new compound 2 is fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopies. Additionally, electrochemical study shows that the two [60] fullerene derivatives 1 and 2 in dichloromethane solution display two sequential one-electron reductions which are shifted by about 0.4V towards more negative potential values with respect to free C60. Such remarkable cathodic shift is attributed to the multiple breakage of the double-bond conjugation within the fullerene core.     

Regioselective oxygenative tetraamination of [60]fullerene. Fullerene-mediated reduction of molecular oxygen by amine via ground state single electron transfer in dimethyl sulfoxide

The reaction of [60]fullerene with a variety of a secondary aliphatic amines in 20% v/v dimethyl sulfoxide in chlorobenzene under an atmospheric pressure of molecular oxygen allows regioselective introduction of four amino groups and one epoxide group around one pentagon of the fullerene molecule in good to high yield. This new synthesis of tetraaminofullerene expoxide can be carried out with a simple procedure on a multigram scale at room temperature and affords a variety of functionalized fullerene derivatives. Near-infrared analysis of a mixture of [60]fullerene and piperidine in a deaerated dimethyl sulfoxide/chlorobenzene mixture indicated equilibrium formation of [60]fullerene radical anion (C60*-) that persists at least for 2 weeks at room temperature but reacts immediately with molecular oxygen to give the tetraaminofullerene expoxide. The Benesi-Hildebrand analysis of the concentration dependency of the near-infrared absorption indicated that a [C60*- piperidine*+] radical ion pair is formed with an equivalent constant of K = 0.62 +/- 0.02 M(-1) at 25 degrees C. This and other lines of evidence suggest that the oxygenative amination reaction involves C60-mediated reduction of molecular oxygen by the amine.     

Gas-phase methylation of [60]fullerene

Direct methylation of [60]fullerene via a gas-phase reaction in a CH4/H2 atmosphere was performed using a modified hot filament chemical vapor deposition method. Pressures were varied from 10 to 60 mbar and the substrate was maintained at 690 degrees C. High-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry analysis showed signals corresponding to C60H18-2n(H,CH3)n. Collision-induced dissociation experiments confirmed a maximum of 18 ligands possible to the [60]fullerene cage.