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Electrochemically generated Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80) dianions react with the electrophile, PhCHBr(2), to produce a methano derivative of Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80)(CHC(6)H(5)) (1) with high regioselectivity. The compound was characterized by MALDI-TOF, NMR, and UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. Electrochemical characterization of this Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80)(CHC(6)H(5)) derivative showed the typical irreversible reductive behavior of the pristine Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80), similar to those observed for Bingel adducts of Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80). Using the same conditions, the reaction between Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80) dianions and PhCHBr(2) was conducted for comparison. Unexpectedly, no nucleophilic reaction was observed, indicating that Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80) dianions are not reactive toward the electrophile. Theoretical studies for both dianionic Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80) and Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80) showed that the HOMO is more highly localized on the fullerene cage for [Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80)](2-) and more localized on the inside cluster for [Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80)](2-), providing an explanation for the drastically different reactivities observed.

The [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80) with benzyne was successfully conducted for the first time. The reaction affords both the [5,6]- and [6,6]-monoadducts with a four-membered ring attached to the cage surface on 5,6- and 6,6-ring fusions, respectively. The compounds were characterized by MALDI-TOF, NMR, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The electrochemical behavior of both monoadducts was investigated. The [5,6]-regioisomer displays reversible cathodic behavior similar to that observed for the fulleropyrrolidines with a 5,6-addition pattern. Surprisingly, the [6,6]-regioisomer also exhibits reversible cathodic behavior. The interconversion reaction of the isomers was also explored, and the results showed that both monoadducts are thermally very stable.

The electrochemical properties of a series of structurally related fullerooxazoles, [6,6] cyclic phenylimidate C(60) (1), 1,2-benzal-3-N-4-O-cyclic phenylimidate C(60) (2), and 1,4-dibenzyl-2,3-cyclic phenylimidate C(60) (3), are described, and the spectroscopic characterizations of their anionic species are reported. The results show that compounds 1 and 2 undergo retro-cycloaddition reactions that lead to the formation of C(60) and C(61)HPh, respectively, upon two-electron-transfer reduction. However, compound 3 demonstrates much more electrochemical stability as no retro-cycloaddition reaction occurs under similar conditions. Natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations on charge distribution show there is no significant difference among the dianions of 1, 2, and 3, indicating that the electrochemical stability of 3 is unlikely to be caused by the charge distribution difference of the dianions of three compounds. Examination on the crystal structure of compound 3 reveals close contacts of the C-H group with the heteroatoms (N and O) of cyclic phenylimidate, suggesting the existence of C-H...X (X = N, O) intramolecular hydrogen bonding among the addends, which is further confirmed by NBO analysis. The results thus suggest that intramolecular hydrogen bonding is responsible for the electrochemical stability of 3.

Taking into account the diversity of fullerene ligands and metal salts, metal–fullerene frameworks (MFFs) present a variety of structures. Currently, the structural control of MFFs mainly relies on the design and synthesis of fullerene ligands, while the influence of metal building units on the structures has been rarely studied. The present work represents a systematical investigation of fullerene-linked supramolecular architectures incorporating different metal salts. Treatment of a bidentate N,N-donors fullerene ligand (L1) with six metal salts ([Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, Cd(NO3)2·4H2O, Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, Cu(OAc)2·H2O, FeCl2·4H2O and FeCl3·6H2O]) produced six one-dimensional MFFs, i.e., ZnL1(NO3)2(H2O)2 (1), CdL1(NO3)2 (2), Cu(L1)(H2O)2(NO3)2 (3), CuL1(OAc)(CH3O) (4), FeL1Cl2 (5) and FeL1Cl2(FeCl4) (6). Compounds 1–3, built with nitrates with different metal centers (M(NO3)2, M = Zn, Cd, Cu), present a 1D stair-like, 1D zigzag, and 1D linear chain structure, respectively. Compound 4, synthesized with another Cu(II) salt, Cu(OAc)2, displays a dinuclear Cu-Cu connected 1D stair-like chain structure, rather than the single Cu linked 1D linear chain obtained from Cu(NO3)2. Compounds 5 and 6, assembled from iron chloride of different oxidation states (Fe(II)Cl2 and Fe(III)Cl3) reveal a 1D zigzag and a 1D stair-like chain structure, respectively. The results demonstrate the significant influences of metal salts on the structures of metal–fullerene frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemistry of cationic forms of clusterfullerenes remain less explored than that of the corresponding neutral or anionic species. In the present work, M3N@Ih‐C80 (M=Sc or Lu) cations were generated by both electrochemical and chemical oxidation methods. The as‐obtained cations successfully underwent the typical Bingel–Hirsch reaction that fails with neutral Sc3N@Ih‐C80. Two isomeric Sc3N@Ih‐C80 cation derivatives, [5,6]‐open and [6,6]‐open adducts, were synthesized, and the former has never been prepared by means of a Bingel–Hirsch reaction with neutral clusterfullerenes. In the case of the Lu3N@Ih‐C80 cation, however, only a [6,6]‐open adduct was obtained. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the oxidized M3N@Ih‐C80 was much more reactive than the neutral compound upon addition of the diethyl bromomalonate anion. The Bingel–Hirsch reaction of M3N@Ih‐C80 cations occurred by means of an unusual outer‐sphere single‐electron transfer (SET) process from the diethyl bromomalonate anion to the stable intermediate [M3N@C80(C2H5COO)2CBr].. Remarkably, the diethyl bromomalonate anion was found to act as both a nucleophile and an electron donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cage-cluster complementarity is of crucial importance in determining the sizes and structures, as well as the properties of endohedral fullerenes. The encapsulated atoms or clusters, which are typically in a positively charged state, are irreversibly, mechanically, and electrostatically trapped inside the typically negatively charged cages. These rather exotic compounds exhibit exquisitely complementary properties between their components. Here, we present a short overview to show that size and shape are crucial in determining the specific structures that are formed, and the presence of electrostatic interactions result in structural motifs that are never observed for pristine fullerene cages. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the unique structural and electronic properties of C60, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) containing C60 linkers are expected to exhibit interesting characteristics. A new hexakisfullerene derivative possessing two pairs of phenyl pyridine groups attached to two methano-carbon atoms located at the trans-1 positions was designed and synthesized. The four pyridyl nitrogen atoms define a perfectly planar rectangle. This new C60 derivative was used to assemble the first fullerene-linked two-dimensional MOF by coordination with Cd2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hexakis-fullerene adduct with two 4,5-diazafluorene groups strategically located at trans-1 positions to allow linear polymerization was selectively synthesized in very high yield. By reaction with Ag(triflate), a one dimensional metal–organic coordination polymer was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fullerene‐based carbons are promising electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their unique carbon structures and tunable architectures at the molecular level. By introducing various functional groups with many elements on the fullerene cages, diverse in situ metal/nonmetal‐doped carbon materials with enhanced pseudocapacitances and/or double layer capacitances can be prepared. In the present work, a fullerene derivative, ferrocenylpyrrolidine C60, containing nitrogen and iron, is chosen as the only precursor. A unique microstructure is fabricated by a liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation process. Subsequently, a facile, one‐step annealing of the microstructure at different temperatures is performed. A series of in situ N and Fe‐codoped laminated 3D hierarchical carbon composites in the shape of a cross are successfully synthesized. The as‐prepared N and Fe‐codoped carbon material treated at 700 °C exhibits a high specific capacitance of 505.4 F g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. To the best knowledge, this is the highest supercapacitor capacitance based on fullerene electrode materials. The use of a fullerene derivative as an in‐situ doped carbon for applications in energy storage opens a new avenue for developing future synthetic strategies to extend the repertoire of electrode materials with high performance. N and Fe‐codoped cross‐like 3D hierarchical carbon materials for high‐performance supercapacitors are successfully synthesized from an in‐situ doped fullerene, ferrocenylpyrrolidine C60 containing nitrogen and iron. The use of a fullerene derivative for applications in energy storage opens a new avenue for developing new synthetic strategies to extend the repertoire of electrode materials with remarkable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]