Search

Regioselective synthesis of bismethanofullerenes has been achieved by the reaction of C60 with methyl or ethyl propiolate in the presence of triphenylphosphine. HMBC and other spectroscopic techniques confirm that the cyclopropane rings in the bismethanofullerenes are formed across two 6.6-ring junctions of the same six-membered ring on the C60 moiety. An unusual [2+2] cycloaddition product of C60 and methylpropiolate has also been isolated. Mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of bismethanofullerens and ethenofullerene.