Mono‐ and Bis(pyrrolo)tetrathiafulvalene Derivatives Tethered to C60: Synthesis,Photophysical Studies,and Self‐Assembled Monolayers

A series of mono‐ (MPTTF) and bis(pyrrolo)tetrathiafulvalene (BPTTF) derivatives tethered to one or two C₆₀ moieties was synthesized and characterized. The synthetic strategy for these dumbbell‐shaped compounds was based on a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction between aldehyde‐functionalized MPTTF/BPTTF derivatives, two different tailor‐made amino acids, and C₆₀. Electronic communication between the MPTTF/BPTTF units and the C₆₀ moieties was studied by a variety of techniques including cyclic voltammetry and absorption spectroscopy. These solution‐based studies indicated no observable electronic communication between the MPTTF/BPTTF units and the C₆₀ moieties. In addition, femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy revealed, rather surprisingly, that no charge transfer from the MPTTF/BPTTF units to the C₆₀ moieties takes place on excitation of the fullerene moiety. Finally, it was shown that the MPTTF–C₆₀ and C₆₀–BPTTF‐C₆₀ dyad and triad molecules formed self‐assembled monolayers on a Au(111) surface by anchoring to C₆₀.     

Dispersion Interaction Stabilizes Sterically Hindered Double Fullerenes

By state‐of‐the‐art quantum chemical methods, we show that for bulky functional groups like cyclohexane, [20]fullerene, dodecahedrane, and C₆₀, the attractive dispersion interaction can have a greater impact on stereochemistry than the repulsive steric effect, making the compact isomer the more stable one. In particular, for the double C₆₀ adduct of pentacene 1 , the syn isomer should be the main product instead of the anti one inferred in the original synthesis experiment (Y. Murata et al., J. Org. Chem.­ 1999 , 64, 3483). With and without dispersion interactions taken into account, the Gibbs energy difference ΔG(syn?anti) is ?6.36 and +1.15 kcal mol^?1, respectively. This study reminds us that dispersion interactions as well as electrostatic or hyperconjugation effects, etc. can lead to some unusual stereochemical phenomena.     

Synthesis of Long‐Sought C66 with Exohedral Stabilization

Previously reported fused‐pentagon fullerenes stabilized by exohedral derivatization do not share the same cage with those stabilized by endohedral encapsulation. Herein we report the crystallographic identification of ^#4348C₆₆Cl₁₀, which has the same cage as that of previously reported Sc₂@C₆₆. According to the geometrical data of ^#4348C₆₆Cl₁₀, both strain relief (at the fused pentagons) and local aromaticity (on the remaining sp²‐hybrided carbon framework) contribute to the exohedral stabilization of this long‐sought 66 carbon atom cage.     

High Degree of Polymerization in a Fullerene‐Containing Supramolecular Polymer

Supramolecular polymers based on dispersion forces typically show lower molecular weights (MW) than those based on hydrogen bonding or metal–ligand coordination. We present the synthesis and self‐assembling properties of a monomer featuring two complementary units, a C₆₀ derivative and an exTTF‐based macrocycle, that interact mainly through π–π, charge‐transfer, and van der Waals interactions. Thanks to the preorganization in the host part, a remarkable log K_a=5.1±0.5 in CHCl₃ at room temperature is determined for the host–guest couple. In accordance with the large binding constant, the monomer self‐assembles in the gas phase, in solution, and in the solid state to form linear supramolecular polymers with a very high degree of polymerization. A MW above 150 kDa has been found experimentally in solution, while in the solid state the monomer forms extraordinarily long, straight, and uniform fibers with lengths reaching several microns.     

Theoretical Study on Experimentally Detected Sc2S@C84

Sc₂S@C₈₄ has recently been detected but not structurally characterized. 1 Density functional theory calculations on C₈₄ and Sc₂S@C₈₄ show that the favored isomer of Sc₂S@C₈₄ shares the same parent cage as Sc₂C₂@C₈₄, whereas Sc₂S@C₈₄:51383, which violates the isolated‐pentagon rule, is the second lowest energy isomer with the widest HOMO–LUMO gap and shows high kinetic stability. The analysis shows that Sc₂S@C₈₄:51575 is favored when the temperature exceeds 2 800 K and it can transform into the most favorable isomer Sc₂S@C₈₄:51591. Molecular orbital analysis indicates that both Sc₂S and Sc₂C₂ formally transfer four electrons to the cage, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analysis demonstrates that there is a covalent interaction between Sc₂S and C₈₄:51591. The IR spectra of Sc₂S@C₈₄ are provided to aid future structural identification.     

Single-Molecule Magnets DyM2N@C80 and Dy2MN@C80 (M=Sc,Lu): The Impact of Diamagnetic Metals on Dy3+ Magnetic Anisotropy,Dy⋅⋅⋅Dy Coupling,and Mixing of Molecular and Lattice Vibrations

The substitution of scandium in fullerene single-molecule magnets (SMMs) DySc₂N@C₈₀ and Dy₂ScN@C₈₀ by lutetium has been studied to explore the influence of the diamagnetic metal on the SMM performance of dysprosium nitride clusterfullerenes. The use of lutetium led to an improved SMM performance of DyLu₂N@C₈₀, which shows a higher blocking temperature of magnetization (T_B=9.5 K), longer relaxation times, and broader hysteresis than DySc₂N@C₈₀ (T_B=6.9 K). At the same time, Dy₂LuN@C₈₀ was found to have a similar blocking temperature of magnetization to Dy₂ScN@C₈₀ (T_B=8 K), but substantially different interactions between the magnetic moments of the dysprosium ions in the Dy₂MN clusters. Surprisingly, although the intramolecular dipolar interactions in Dy₂LuN@C₈₀ and Dy₂ScN@C₈₀ are of similar strength, the exchange interactions in Dy₂LuN@C₈₀ are close to zero. Analysis of the low-frequency molecular and lattice vibrations showed strong mixing of the lattice modes and endohedral cluster librations in k-space. This mixing simplifies the spin–lattice relaxation by conserving the momentum during the spin flip and helping to distribute the moment and energy further into the lattice.     

The Supramolecular Chemistry of Strained Carbon Nanohoops

Since 1996, a growing number of strained macrocycles, comprising only sp²‐ or sp‐hybridized carbon atoms within the ring, have become synthetically accessible, with the [n]cycloparaphenyleneacetylenes ( CPPAs ) and the [n]cycloparaphenylenes ( CPPs ) being the most prominent examples. Now that robust and relatively general synthetic routes toward a diverse range of nanohoop structures have become available, the research focus is beginning to shift towards the exploration of their properties and applications. From a supramolecular chemistry perspective, these macrocycles offer unique opportunities as a result of their near‐perfect circular shape, the unusually high degree of shape‐persistence, and the presence of both convex and concave π‐faces. In this Minireview, we give an overview on the use of strained carbon‐rich nanohoops in host–guest chemistry, the preparation of mechanically interlocked architectures, and crystal engineering.     

Fullerides: heterometallic superconductors with composition M<Subscript>2</Subscript>M′C<Subscript>60</Subscript> (M = K,Rb; M′ = Yb,Lu, Sc)

One- or two-step reactions of potassium and rubidium fullerides with composition M_k C₆₀ (M = K, Rb; k = 3—6) and K₆C₆₀ + m K mixtures (m = 1, 3) with anhydrous salts MCl₃ (M = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Yb, Lu, Y, Sc) and YbI₂ in a toluene—THF medium afforded heterometallic fullerides M_3–nM_nC₆₀ (n = 1—3). Among these compounds, substituted fullerides with composition M₂MC₆₀ (M = Yb, Lu, Sc) display superconducting properties with critical temperatures of 14—20 K.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1623–1628, August, 2004.     

C~6~0, C~7~0的烷基化

本文利用低价稀土化物(S~mI~2或YbI~2)与C~6~0、C~7~0及卤代烃(烯丙基溴、氯苄)的混合溶液反应,制得烯丙基化、苄基化的富勒烯。发现与C~6~0相接的苄基数可以从1到14,验证了Krusic等人的结果。此外,还发现C~6~0可以进行烯丙基化,得到(CH~2=CHCH~2)~nC~6~0(n=1-10),C~7~0可以进行苄基化,C~7~0上至少可以接13个苄基,实验证明这类反应是对富勒烯进行烷基化的一种简便、有效的方法。