Encapsulation and Dynamic Behavior of Methanol and Formaldehyde inside Open‐Cage C60 Derivatives

Methanol (CH₃OH) and formaldehyde (H₂CO) molecules were inserted into an open‐cage C₆₀ derivative with a large opening, under high‐pressure and high‐temperature conditions in solution. Isolation of their molecular complexes in pure form was achieved by the use of recycling HPLC with Buckyprep columns. ¹H NMR spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies, and DFT calculations revealed the orientation of the encapsulated CH₃OH and H₂CO, both in solution and in the solid state, and the results show that the CH₃ group of the CH₃OH and the carbonyl group of the H₂CO point to the bottom of the cages. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the CH₃OH and H₂CO were studied at the molecular level.