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C[sub 60]H[sub 2]: Synthesis of the simplest C[sub 60] hydrocarbon derivative

Journal Article · · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The reaction of C[sub 60] with BH[sub 3]:tetrahydrofuran in toluene followed by hydrolysis yielded C[sub 60]H[sub 2]. This product was separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and characterized as the addition product of H[sub 2] to a 6,6-ring fusion (1a1b isomer). The [sup 1]H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of the product remained a sharp singlet between [minus]80[degrees] and +100[degrees]C, which suggests a static structure on the NMR time scale. Hydrolysis of the proposed borane addition product with acetic acid-d[sub 1] or D[sub 2]O yielded C[sub 60]HD, and its [sup 3]J[sub HD] coupling constant is consistent with vicinal addition. The observation of a single C[sub 60]H[sub 2] isomer is in complete agreement with earlier calculations that indicated that at most 2 of the 23 possible isomers of C[sub 60] would be observable at equilibrium at room temperature. These results suggest that organoborane chemistry may be applied to further functionalization of fullerenes. 13 refs., 5 figs.

DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6539148
Journal Information:
Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 259:5103; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English