Synthesis and regiochemistry of [60]fullerenyl 2-methylmalonate bisadducts and their facile electron-accepting properties

J Org Chem. 2010 Jul 2;75(13):4574-83. doi: 10.1021/jo1007674.

Abstract

A simple one-pot reaction using in situ chemically generated Na-naphthalenide as an electron reductant in the preferential generation of C(60)(2-) is described. Trapping of C(60)(2-) intermediate with 2 molar equiv of sterically hindered 2-bromo-2-methylmalonate ester afforded two singly bonded fullerenyl bisadducts C(60)[-CMe(CO(2)Et)(2)](2) in 35% and 7% yield, respectively. The regiochemistry of these two products was determined to be 1,4- and 1,16-bisadducts, respectively, by NMR, UV-vis-NIR, LCMS, and X-ray single crystal structural analysis. The minor 1,16-bisadduct 2 exhibits long wavelength absorption bands in the near-IR region and prominent electron-accepting characteristics as compared with those of the major 1,4-bisadduct and pristine C(60). As revealed by DFT calculation, we propose that the origin of these unusual characters of 2 arises from the moiety of [18pi]-trannulene, in close resemblance to that of the highly symmetrical emerald green 1,16,29,38,43,60-hexaadduct of C(60), EF-6MC(n). Accordingly, we anticipate a fast progressive formation of plausible 1,16-bisadduct-like intermediate moieties on a C(60) cage as the precursor structure leading to the formation of EF-6MC(n), by taking the corresponding regiochemistry and electronic properties into account.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cyclization
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrons
  • Fullerenes / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Malonates / chemical synthesis*
  • Malonates / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Fullerenes
  • Malonates
  • pristine (C60)
  • malonic acid