Synlett 2007(20): 3077-3095  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-990939
ACCOUNT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

New Reactions in Fullerene Chemistry

Nazario Martín*, Margarita Altable, Salvatore Filippone, Angel Martín-Domenech
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
e-Mail: nazmar@quim.ucm.es;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 23 May 2007
Publication Date:
03 December 2007 (online)

Abstract

Unprecedented reactions involving the highly reactive double bonds of the fullerene sphere undergoing cobalt-catalyzed [2+2+1], thermally induced [2+2], and ene cycloadditions have been researched in a systematic way. In addition, the highly efficient retro-cycloaddition processes of fulleropyrrolidines (Prato cycloadducts) and fulleroisoxazolines are also discussed in detail. These new reactions in fullerene chemistry reveal that the unique scenario presented by the convex and highly reactive surface in fullerenes has not yet been appropriately exploited, and that it is still possible to create new and fascinating structures.

1 Introduction

2 Fuller-1,6-enynes: New and Versatile Building Blocks in Fullerene Chemistry

2.1 The Pauson-Khand Reaction on [60]Fullerene

2.2 Thermally Induced [2+2] Cyclizations of Fuller-1,6-enynes

2.3 Thermally Induced Intramolecular Ene Reaction of Fuller-1,6-enynes: Synthesis of Fulleroallenes

2.4 Theoretical Study of the Thermally Induced Intramolecular Reactions of Fuller-1,6-enynes

3 Retro-Cycloaddition of Fulleropyrrolidines (Retro-Prato Reaction): A New and Surprising Reaction!

4 Retro-Cycloaddition Reaction of Fulleroisoxazolines

5 Conclusions

16

AM1 calculations with the AMPAC 6.55 program have been carried out for carbon monoxide and complexes 17, 19, and 20 in which the phenyl group has been substituted by a methyl group. The results give a reaction enthalpy of -73.3 and -116.2 kcal mol-1 for the reactions 17 + CO 19 and 17 + 2CO 20, respectively. The difference of 30.4 kcal·mol-1 [(-116.2) - 2(-73.3)] can be taken as an indication of excess strain energy in 20 compared with 19.