Lanthanum complexes of spheroidal carbon shells

X-ray structures of Sc2C2@C2n (n = 40-42): in-depth understanding of the core-shell interplay in carbide cluster metallofullerenes

X-ray analyses of the cocrystals of a series of carbide cluster metallofullerenes Sc(2)C(2)@C(2n) (n = 40-42) with cobalt(II) octaethylporphyrin present new insights into the molecular structures and cluster-cage interactions of these less-explored species. Along with the unambiguous identification of the cage structures for the three isomers of Sc(2)C(2)@C(2v)(5)-C(80), Sc(2)C(2)@C(3v)(8)-C(82), and Sc(2)C(2)@D(2d)(23)-C(84), a clear correlation between the cluster strain and cage size is observed in this series: Sc-Sc distances and dihedral angles of the bent cluster increase along with cage expansion, indicating that the bending strain within the cluster makes it pursue a planar structure to the greatest degree possible. However, the C-C distances within Sc(2)C(2) remain unchanged when the cage expands, perhaps because of the unusual bent structure of the cluster, preventing contact between the cage and the C(2) unit. Moreover, analyses revealed that larger cages provide more space for the cluster to rotate. The preferential formation of cluster endohedral metallofullerenes for scandium might be associated with its small ionic radius and the strong coordination ability as well.

THEORETICAL STUDY ON ENDOHEDRAL COMPLEXES C2H2–C60, C2H4–C60, AND C2H6–C60

Three endohedral fullerenes C 2 H 2– C 60, C 2 H 4– C 60, and C 2 H 6– C 60 are investigated theoretically using density functional theory. Their electronic and structural properties are studied. The calculations suggest that the formations of these complexes are endothermic; the dopant and C 60 cage affect each other rarely except for the slight distortion of C 60 cage and compression of the hydrocarbon molecules. A small quantity of electron transfer from C 60 to the hydrocarbon molecule was also observed. Accordingly, C 60 could theoretically be a good container for some small hydrocarbon molecules.

Fullerenes encaging metal clusters--clusterfullerenes

Clusterfullerenes represent a novel branch of endohedral fullerenes, which are characterized by a robust fullerene cage with metal clusters encaged in its hollow. Since the discovery of nitride clusterfullerenes (NCFs) in 1999, the family of clusterfullerenes has been significantly expanded within the past decade, with new members including carbide clusterfullerenes (CCFs), hydrocarbide clusterfullerenes (HCCFs), oxide clusterfullerenes (OCFs), sulfide clusterfullerenes (SCFs), and carbonitride clusterfullerenes (CNCFs). We first present the classification of clusterfullerenes and list all the clusterfullerenes reported to date. For each type of clusterfullerenes, we review in detail their synthesis, separation, intriguing molecular structures and properties. For NCFs, as the first and most important clusterfullerenes, we point out the significance of their discovery and focus on their new synthesis and separation methods as well as the new advances. Finally the potential applications of clusterfullerenes are addressed. We conclude that clusterfullerenes appear to be the fastest growing family of endohedral fullerenes up to now, and emphasize the importance of exploring new structures and chemical functionalizations of clusterfullerenes.

(Co-)solvent selection for single-wall carbon nanotubes: best solvents, acids, superacids and guest-host inclusion complexes

Analysis of 1-octanol-water, cyclohexane-water and chloroform (CHCl(3))-water partition coefficients P(o-ch-cf) allows calculation of molecular lipophilicity patterns, which show that for a given atom log P(o-ch-cf) is sensitive to the presence of functional groups. Program CDHI does not properly differentiate between non-equivalent atoms. The most abundant single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT), (10,10), presents a relatively small aqueous solubility and large elementary polarizability, P(o-ch-cf) and kinetic stability. The SWNT solubility is studied in various solvents, finding a class of non-hydrogen-bonding Lewis bases with good solubility. Solvents group into three classes. The SWNTs in some organic solvents are cationic while in water/Triton X mixture are anionic. Categorized solubility is semiquantitatively correlated with solvent parameters. The coefficient of term β is positive while the ones of ε and V negative. The electron affinity of d-glucopyranoses (d-Glcp(n)) suggests the formation of colloids of anionic SWNTs in water. Dipole moment for d-Glcp(n)-linear increases with n until four in agreement with 18-fold helix. The I(n)(z-) and SWNT(-) are proposed to form inclusion complexes with cyclodextrin (CD) and amylose (Amy). Starch, d-Glcp, CD and Amy are proposed as SWNT co-solvents. Guests-hosts are unperturbed. A central channel expansion is suggested.

Current progress on the chemical functionalization and supramolecular chemistry of M@C82

Since the first discovery of fullerenes in 1985, the insertion of one or more atoms into a hollow fullerene cage has been attempted. Furthermore, synthesis and extraction of metallofullerene, La@C(n), were reported in 1991. Recent successful isolation and purification of metallofullerenes have facilitated the investigation of their chemical properties. This mini-review presents a summary of the recent progress of chemical functionalization and supramolecular chemistry of M@C(82). Selective functionalization and successful structural analysis of derivatives have revealed their chemical features arising from endohedral metal doping.

Vibrational properties of noble gas endohedral fullerenes

Analysis of IR and Raman spectra of Ar@C(60) and Kr@C(60) shows that the incorporation of noble gas atoms causes a blue shift of low energy vibrations, which have radial character, and a red shift of higher energy ones which have a tangential character movement. The mechanism of these phenomena is explained on the basis of ab initio numerical experiments with DFT and MP2 procedures. Methodological discussions are advanced, altogether with a scheme for the estimation of the van der Waals interaction between fullerene and noble gas, based on the frequency shifts.

Small Molecules in C60 and C70: Which Complexes Could Be Stabilized?

The recent syntheses of complexes involving some small molecules in opened fullerenes and those of hydrogen molecule(s) in C60 and C70 are accompanied in the literature by numerous computations for endohedral fullerene complexes which cope with the problem of the stability of these complexes. In this contribution, stabilization energies of endohedral complexes of C60 and C70 with H2, N2, CO, HCN, H2O, H2S, NH3, CH4, CO2, C2H2, H2CO, and CH3OH guests have been estimated using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory, which, contrary to the standard DFT and some other approaches, correctly describes the dispersion contribution of the host-guest interactions. On the basis of these calculations, the endohedral complexes with all these guests were found stable in the larger fullerene, while the C60 cage was found too small to host the latter four molecules. Except for H2 and H2CO, a stabilization effect for most guests in the C60 cage is about 30 kJ/mol. For H2 and H2O guests, a typical supramolecular effect is observed; namely, the stabilization in the smaller cage is equal to or larger than that in the larger C70 host. Except for the water molecule where the induction interaction plays a non-negligible role, in all complexes the main stabilization effect comes from the dispersion interaction. The information on the stability of hypothetical endohedral fullerene complexes and physical factors contributing to it can be of importance in designing future experiments contributing to their applications.

The shape of the Sc2(μ2-S) unit trapped in C82: crystallographic, computational, and electrochemical studies of the isomers, Sc2(μ2-S)@C(s)(6)-C82 and Sc2(μ2-S)@C(3v)(8)-C82

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of Sc(2)(μ(2)-S)@C(s)(6)-C(82)·Ni(II)(OEP)·2C(6)H(6) and Sc(2)(μ(2)-S)@C(3v)(8)-C(82)·Ni(II)(OEP)·2C(6)H(6) reveal that both contain fully ordered fullerene cages. The crystallographic data for Sc(2)(μ(2)-S)@C(s)(6)-C(82)·Ni(II)(OEP)·2C(6)H(6) show two remarkable features: the presence of two slightly different cage sites and a fully ordered molecule Sc(2)(μ(2)-S)@C(s)(6)-C(82) in one of these sites. The Sc-S-Sc angles in Sc(2)(μ(2)-S)@C(s)(6)-C(82) (113.84(3)°) and Sc(2)(μ(2)-S)@C(3v)(8)-C(82) differ (97.34(13)°). This is the first case where the nature and structure of the fullerene cage isomer exerts a demonstrable effect on the geometry of the cluster contained within. Computational studies have shown that, among the nine isomers that follow the isolated pentagon rule for C(82), the cage stability changes markedly between 0 and 250 K, but the C(s)(6)-C(82) cage is preferred at temperatures ≥250 °C when using the energies obtained with the free encapsulated model (FEM). However, the C(3v)(8)-C(82) cage is preferred at temperatures ≥250 °C using the energies obtained by rigid rotor-harmonic oscillator (RRHO) approximation. These results corroborate the fact that both cages are observed and likely to trap the Sc(2)(μ(2)-S) cluster, whereas earlier FEM and RRHO calculations predicted only the C(s)(6)-C(82) cage is likely to trap the Sc(2)(μ(2)-O) cluster. We also compare the recently published electrochemistry of the sulfide-containing Sc(2)(μ(2)-S)@C(s)(6)-C(82) to that of corresponding oxide-containing Sc(2)(μ(2)-O)@C(s)(6)-C(82).

Carbon ARC Generation of C60

Generation of C60 at a rate of more than 10 grams per day has been accomplished by operation of a carbon arc in an atmosphere of helium. Optimum yield of 15% was found to occur near 100–200 torr, but yields greater than 3% were found throughout the range between 50 and 760 torr. A model is proposed to explain the observed behavior based on competition between annealing of graphitic sheets to curve so that they minimize dangling bonds, and further rapid growth of these sheets in the gas phase to form giant fullerenes. In agreement with predictions of this model, laser vaporization of graphite targets was found to produce macroscopic quantities of C60 only when performed in an oven above 1000 C.

Solution and Solid State NMR Studies of the Structure and Dynamics of C60 and C70

We have investigated the structure and dynamics of C60 and C70 with 13C NMR spectroscopy. In solution, high-resolution spectra reveal that C60 has a single resonance at 143 ppm, indicating a strained, aromatic system with high symmetry. This is strong evidence for a C60 “soccer ball” geometry. A 2D NMR INADEQUATE experiment on 13C-enriched C70 reveals the bonding connectivity to be a linear string, in firm support of the proposed “rugby ball” structure with D5h symmetry, and furnishes resonance assignments. Solid state NMR spectra of C60 at ambient temperatures yield a narrow resonance, indicative of rapid molecular reorientation. Variable temperature T1 measurements show that the rotational correlation time is ∼ 10−9s at 230 K. At 77 K, this time increases to more than 1 ms, and the 13C NMR spectrum of C60 is a powder pattern due to chemical shift anisotropy (tensor components 220, 186, 40 ppm). At intermediate temperatures a narrow peak is superimposed on the powder pattern, suggesting a distribution of barriers to molecular motion in the sample, or the presence of an additional phase in the solid state. A Carr-Purcell dipolar experiment on C60 in the solid state allows the first precise determination of the C60 bond lengths: 1.45 and 1.40Å.

Electronic Structure of Doped Buckminsterfullerene

Molecular cluster calculations within the local density approximation have been performed in a study of the electronic structure of the C60 molecule - “Buckminsterfullerene” doped with K, B and N. Calculations for the KC60 molecule, with the K atom located at the centre of the cage as well as at different positions inside or outside the cage, show how the valence 4s electron is transferred to the LUMO state of the bare C60 molecule. Doping with a B or N atom located at the centre of the cage creates a molecule with a partly occupied level of 2p character in the HOMO and LUMO gap, similar to donor and acceptor levels in the band gap of traditionally doped semiconductors. Doping by substitution of one or two of the carbon atoms in the cage with X = B or N, as modelled with the C59 X1 or C58X2 clusters, gives a different structure with a splitting of the HOMO and LUMO levels in the pure C60 molecule and with the creation of acceptor and donor levels with the substitution of B and N, respectively.

Low-toxic and safe nanomaterials by surface-chemical design, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, metallofullerenes, and graphenes

The toxicity grade for a bulk material can be approximately determined by three factors (chemical composition, dose, and exposure route). However, for a nanomaterial it depends on more than ten factors. Interestingly, some nano-factors (like huge surface adsorbability, small size, etc.) that endow nanomaterials with new biomedical functions are also potential causes leading to toxicity or damage to the living organism. Is it possible to create safe nanomaterials if such a number of complicated factors need to be regulated? We herein try to find answers to this important question. We first discuss chemical processes that are applicable for nanosurface modifications, in order to improve biocompatibility, regulate ADME, and reduce the toxicity of carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, metallofullerenes, and graphenes). Then the biological/toxicological effects of surface-modified and unmodified carbon nanomaterials are comparatively discussed from two aspects: the lowered toxic responses or the enhanced biomedical functions. We summarize the eight biggest challenges in creating low-toxicity and safer nanomaterials and some significant topics of future research needs: to find out safer nanofactors; to establish controllable surface modifications and simpler chemistries for low-toxic nanomaterials; to explore the nanotoxicity mechanisms; to justify the validity of current toxicological theories in nanotoxicology; to create standardized nanomaterials for toxicity tests; to build theoretical models for cellular and molecular interactions of nanoparticles; and to establish systematical knowledge frameworks for nanotoxicology.

Confinement resonances in photoionization of Xe@C₆₀+

Experimental evidence is presented for confinement resonances associated with photoabsorption by a Xe atom in a C60 cage. The giant 4d resonance in photoionization of Xe is predicted to be redistributed into four components due to multipath interference of photoelectron waves reflected by the cage. The measurements were made in the photon energy range 60-150 eV by merging a beam of synchrotron radiation with a mass/charge selected Xe@C₆₀+ ion beam. The phenomenon was observed in the Xe@C(58)(3+) product ion channel. [corrected]

Theoretical studies of CH4 inside an open-cage fullerene: translation-rotation coupling and thermodynamic effects

Molecules trapped inside fullerenes exhibit interesting quantum behavior, including quantization of their translational degrees of freedom. In this study, a theoretical framework for predicting quantum properties of nonlinear small molecules in nonsymmetric open-cage fullerenes (OCFs) has been described along the lines of similar theories which treat small molecules inside C(60) and clathrate cages. As an example, the coupled translational-rotational energy structure has been calculated for the case of CH(4) inside a known OCF. The calculated energy levels have been used to calculate the equilibrium fraction of incorporated CH(4) as well as the translational heat capacity for the encapsulated molecule. The heat capacity shows an anomalous maximum at 239 K for CH(4) and 215 K for CD(4) which are not present in free methane.

Elegance and empiricism

C60 was discovered in 1985 but it took five years to confirm that this famous molecule was spherical. Chris Toumey revisits a debate that highlighted different approaches to science.

The maximum pentagon separation rule provides a guideline for the structures of endohedral metallofullerenes

Fullerenes tend to follow the isolated pentagon rule, which requires that each of the 12 pentagons is surrounded only by hexagons. Over the past decade many violations to this rule were reported for endohedral fullerenes. Based on the ionic model M(3)N(6+)@C(2n)(6-) and the orbital energies of the isolated cages, in 2005 we formulated a molecular orbital rule to identify the most suitable hosting cages in endohedral metallofullerenes. Now, we give physical support to the orbital rule, and we propose the maximum pentagon separation rule, which can be applied to either isolated pentagon rule cages or to non-isolated pentagon rule cages with the same number of adjacent pentagon pairs. The maximum pentagon separation rule can be formulated as 'The electron transfer from the internal cluster to the fullerene host preferentially adds electrons to the pentagons; therefore, the most suitable carbon cages are those with the largest separations among the 12 pentagons'.

In vitro evaluation of cellular responses induced by stable fullerene C60 medium dispersion

Because of the expansion of the functionalities available for modification of fullerene C60 and its derivatives, their uses are increasing. However, the consequences of fullerene exposure to human health have not been fully studied. In vitro experiments are useful for risk assessment and for understanding potential applications. However, the insolubility of pristine C60 in water makes the in vitro evaluation of cellular responses difficult. To overcome this problem, we prepared a stable and uniform C60-medium dispersion for in vitro examinations. In addition, we examined the effect of the C60-medium dispersion on human keratinocyte HaCaT cells and human lung carcinoma A549 cells to understand the cellular responses induced by exposure to C60. Results indicated that exposure to C60 did not affect cell viability; neither apoptosis nor necrosis were induced, while cell proliferation was inhibited. Furthermore, intracellular oxidative stress was induced by C60 exposure in both HaCaT and A549 cells. Transmission electron microscopy indicated the cellular uptake of C60 aggregates. The results obtained from this study indicate that C60 has oxidative stress induction potential. Further examinations including in vivo studies are necessary for a more accurate evaluation of biological influences by C60.

Computationally designed families of flat, tubular, and cage molecules assembled with "starbenzene" building blocks through hydrogen-bridge bonds

Using density functional calculations, we demonstrate that the planarity of the nonclassical planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) arrangement can be utilized to construct new families of flat, tubular, and cage molecules which are geometrically akin to graphenes, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes but have fundamentally different chemical bonds. These molecules are assembled with a single type of hexagonal blocks called starbenzene (D(6h) C(6)Be(6)H(6)) through hydrogen-bridge bonds that have an average bonding energy of 25.4-33.1 kcal mol(-1). Starbenzene is an aromatic molecule with six pi electrons, but its carbon atoms prefer ptC arrangements rather than the planar trigonal sp(2) arrangements like those in benzene. Various stability assessments indicate their excellent stabilities for experimental realization. For example, one starbenzene unit in an infinite two-dimensional molecular sheet lies on average 154.1 kcal mol(-1) below three isolated linear C(2)Be(2)H(2) (global minimum) monomers. This value is close to the energy lowering of 157.4 kcal mol(-1) of benzene relative to three acetylene molecules. The ptC bonding in starbenzene can be extended to give new series of starlike monocyclic aromatic molecules (D(4h) C(4)Be(4)H(4)(2-), D(5h) C(5)Be(5)H(5)(-), D(6h) C(6)Be(6)H(6), D(7h) C(7)Be(7)H(7)(+), D(8h) C(8)Be(8)H(8)(2-), and D(9h) C(9)Be(9)H(9)(-)), known as starenes. The starene isomers with classical trigonal carbon sp(2) bonding are all less stable than the corresponding starlike starenes. Similarly, lithiated C(5)Be(5)H(5) can be assembled into a C(60)-like molecule. The chemical bonding involved in the title molecules includes aromaticity, ptC arrangements, hydrogen-bridge bonds, ionic bonds, and covalent bonds, which, along with their unique geometric features, may result in new applications.

Nanotechnology and MRI contrast enhancement

Technical advances in nanotechnology are creating novel classes of MRI contrast-enhancing agents. These nanomaterials offer much higher relaxivities than most current clinical contrast agents, which translates into greater MRI contrast enhancement. These nanoscale agents also have the potential to revolutionize in vivo applications of contrast-enhanced MRI since they offer the multiple advantages of low toxicities, extremely high relaxivities and cell internalization capabilities. In this review, we discuss three types of such contrast agents currently in use or under development for medical imaging: small particles of iron oxide, fullerenes encapsulating Gd3+ ions (gadofullerenes) and single-walled carbon nanotube nanocapsules encapsulating Gd3+ ion clusters (gadonanotubes). The latest developments and projected future applications of these nanotechnology-inspired contrast agents in the field of medical imaging are also discussed.

Reactivity and regioselectivity of noble gas endohedral fullerenes Ng@C(60) and Ng(2)@C(60) (Ng=He-Xe)

Recently, it was shown that genuine Ng-Ng chemical bonds are present in the endohedral fullerenes Ng(2)@C(60) in the case of Ng=Xe, while it is more debatable whether a chemical bond exist for Ng=Ar and Kr. The lighter homologues with helium and neon are weakly bonded van der Waals complexes. The presence of a noble gas dimer inside the cage is expected to modify the exohedral reactivity of the C(60) cage with respect to that of free C(60). To investigate the impact of encapsulated diatomic noble gas molecules on the chemical reactivity of C(60), we analyzed the thermodynamics and the kinetics of [4+2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 1,3-cis-butadiene at all nonequivalent bonds in free C(60), Ng@C(60), and Ng(2)@C(60) (Ng=He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe). Our BP86/TZP calculations reveal that introduction of single noble gas atoms in Ng@C(60) and noble gas dimers He(2) and Ne(2) in Ng(2)@C(60) has almost no effect on the exohedral reactivity compared to free C(60), in agreement with experimental results. In all these cases cycloaddition is clearly favored at the [6,6] bonds in the fullerene cage. For the endohedral compounds He(2)@C(60) and Ne(2)@C(60) a slight preference (by less than 2 kcal mol(-1)) for bonds closer to the C(5) symmetry axis is found. This picture changes dramatically for the endohedral compounds with heavier noble gas dimers. Encapsulation of these noble gas dimers clearly enhances the reaction, both under thermodynamic and kinetic control. Moreover, in the case of Xe(2)@C(60), addition to [6,6] and [5,6] bonds becomes equally viable. These reactivity changes in endohedral fullerenes are attributed to stabilization of the LUMO, increased fullerene strain energy, and greater compression of the encapsulated Ng(2) unit along the He to Xe series.

Chemical, electrochemical, and structural properties of endohedral metallofullerenes

Ever since the first experimental evidence of the existence of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) was obtained, the search for carbon cages with encapsulated metals and small molecules has become a very active field of research. EMFs exhibit unique electronic and structural features, with potential applications in many fields. Furthermore, functionalized EMFs offer additional potential applications because of their higher solubility and their ease of characterization by X-ray crystallography and other techniques. Herein we review the general field of EMFs, particularly of functionalized EMFs. We also address their structures and their (electrochemical) properties, as well as applications of these fascinating compounds.

Studies of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayers embedded with endohedral metallofullerene (Dy@C82)

Toxicological effects of carbon nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention. In this work, we studied the interaction between Dy@C(82) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in a monolayer at the N(2)/Tris buffer interface by thermodynamic analysis of surface pressure-area (pi-A) and surface potential-area (DeltaV-A) isotherms. Dy@C(82) was found to impact considerably more on the physical properties of the monolayers than C(60) because of its elliptical structure and distinctive dipole. The addition of Dy@C(82) essentially closed down the liquid expanded-liquid condensed (LE-LC) phase coexistence region of the mixed monolayers. Furthermore, Dy@C(82) reduced elasticity of the monolayers, as indicated by the decreasing elastic modulus (C(s)(-1)) with increasing molar ratio of Dy@C(82) (X(Dy@C82)). Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the dispersion of Dy@C(82) depend on the state of the mixed films. Dy@C(82) formed flocs from aggregation of Dy@C(82) towers in the LE and LE-LC coexistence regions, accompanied by gradual falling down of Dy@C(82) from the towers and permeation of the falling metallofullerenes into the LE phase during their compression-induced reorientation process. In the LC and solid phases, the Dy@C(82) flocs were dispersed into isolated towers, accompanied by the partial squeezing out of the embedded metallofullerenes to above the DPPC monolayer. The continuous falling down of Dy@C(82) from the towers resulted in their height decrease but diameter enlargement. When the surface pressure was increased to the kink value (53 mN/m), Dy@C(82) was almost completely extruded from the DPPC monolayers. These findings are believed to be important for understanding the impact of fullerenes, metallofullerenes, and nanomaterials in general on biological membranes.