A straightforward reductive approach for the deoxygenation, activation and functionalization of ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report here a straightforward reductive approach for the deoxygenation, activation and functionalization of ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes (us-SWCNTs). Us-SWCNTs with lengths of only 20–50 nm were prepared by the low-temperature oxidative-cutting process which inevitably introduced oxygen-containing groups onto the nanotube framework. For the subsequent deoxygenation, six routes have been investigated and the reduction with potassium is the optimal one that can efficiently remove the oxidized groups and consequently recover the inherent structures and properties of us-SWCNTs. This reductive approach permits at the same time very efficient activation of the chemically inert nanotubes by generating the intermediate us-SWCNTn- carbanions. Subsequent quenching these negative charges on the nanotube backbone using electrophiles affords very efficient covalent binding of distinct building blocks as porphyrin, phenyl or hexyl moieties onto us-SWCNTs. Additionally, the Birch-type reductive approach was also performed to realize the first hydrogenation of us-SWCNTs by using water as proton source and lithium as reducing agent.