Unexpected isomerism in cis-2 bis(pyrrolidino)[60]fullerene diastereomers

Self-Assembly-Directed Organization of a Fullerene-Bisporphyrin into Supramolecular Giant Donut Structures for Excited-State Charge Stabilization

Functional materials composed of spontaneously self-assembled electron donor and acceptor entities capable of generating long-lived charge-separated states upon photoillumination are in great demand as they are key in building the next generation of light energy harvesting devices. However, creating such well-defined architectures is challenging due to the intricate molecular design, multistep synthesis, and issues associated in demonstrating long-lived electron transfer. In this study, we have accomplished these tasks and report the synthesis of a new fullerene-bis-Zn-porphyrin e-bisadduct by tether-directed functionalization of C60 via a multistep synthetic protocol. Supramolecular oligomers were subsequently formed involving the two porphyrin-bearing arms embracing a fullerene cage of the vicinal molecule as confirmed by MALDI-TOF spectrometry and variable temperature NMR. In addition, the initially formed worm-like oligomers are shown to evolve to generate donut-like aggregates by AFM monitoring that was also supported by theoretical calculations. The final supramolecular donuts revealed an inner cavity size estimated as 23 nm, close to that observed in photosynthetic antenna systems. Upon systematic spectral, computational, and electrochemical studies, an energy level diagram was established to visualize the thermodynamic feasibility of electron transfer in these donor-acceptor constructs. Subsequently, transient pump-probe spectral studies covering the wide femtosecond-to-millisecond time scale were performed to confirm the formation of long-lived charge-separated states. The lifetime of the final charge-separated state was about 40 μs, thus highlighting the significance of the current approach of building giant self-organized donor-acceptor assemblies for light energy harvesting applications.

2-Azaallyl Anions, 2-Azaallyl Cations, 2-Azaallyl Radicals, and Azomethine Ylides

This review covers the use of 2-azaallyl anions, 2-azaallyl cations, and 2-azaallyl radicals in organic synthesis up through June 2018. Particular attention is paid to both foundational studies and recent advances over the past decade involving semistabilized and nonstabilized 2-azaallyl anions as key intermediates in various carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond-forming processes. Both transition-metal-catalyzed and transition-metal-free transformations are covered. Azomethine ylides, which have received significant attention elsewhere, are discussed briefly with the primary focus on critical comparisons with 2-azaallyl anions in regard to generation and use.

Facile Separation, Spectroscopic Identification, and Electrochemical Properties of Higher Trifluoromethylated Derivatives of [70]Fullerene

We survey the structure and electronic properties of the family of higher trifluoromethylated C70 (CF3 )n molecules with n=14, 16, 18, and 20. Twenty-two available compounds, of which thirteen are newly obtained and characterized, demonstrate the broad diversity of π-system topologies, which enabled us to study the interplay between the CF3 addition pattern and the electronic properties. UV/Vis spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric studies demonstrate the importance of the exact addition pattern rather than the plain number of addends. Of particular interest is the skew pentagonal pyramid (SPP) addition pattern, which enables formation of closed-shell cyclopentadienyl anions C70 (CF3 )n-1- through CF3 detachment upon electron transfer. A detailed study of the process is presented for a SPP-C70 (CF3 )16 where potentiostatic electrolysis at the second reduction potential gives C70 (CF3 )15- oxidizable to a persistent C70 (CF3 )15. radical. Together with the literature data for the lower C70 (CF3 )n compounds with n=2-12, the present results show good correlation between the experimental boundary level positions and the DFT predictions. The compounds turn out to be electron acceptor molecular semiconductors with experimental LUMO energies and HOMO-LUMO gaps within the ranges of -4.3 to -3.7 eV and 1.6 to 3.3 eV, respectively, depending on the shape of the conjugated fragments. The HOMO levels fall within the range of -5.6 to -6.9 eV and show linear correlation with the number of addends.

Rationalizing the Regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder Biscycloaddition of Fullerenes

The physical factors governing the regioselectivity of the double functionalization of fullerenes have been explored by means of density functional theory calculations. To this end, the second Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions involving 1,3-butadiene and the parent C₆₀ fullerene as well as the ion-encapsulated system Li⁺@C₆₀ have been selected. In agreement with previous experimental findings on related processes, it is found that the cycloaddition reaction, involving either C₆₀ or Li⁺@C₆₀, occurs selectively at specific [6,6]-bonds. The combination of the activation strain model of reactivity and the energy decomposition analysis methods has been applied to gain a quantitative understanding into the markedly different reactivity of the available [6,6]-bonds leading to the observed regioselectivity in the transformation.

Fullerene Derivatives Strongly Inhibit HIV-1 Replication by Affecting Virus Maturation without Impairing Protease Activity

Three compounds (1, 2, and 3) previously reported to inhibit HIV-1 replication and/or in vitro activity of reverse transcriptase were studied, but only fullerene derivatives 1 and 2 showed strong antiviral activity on the replication of HIV-1 in human CD4(+) T cells. However, these compounds did not inhibit infection by single-round infection vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein G (VSV-G)-pseudotyped viruses, indicating no effect on the early steps of the viral life cycle. In contrast, analysis of single-round infection VSV-G-pseudotyped HIV-1 produced in the presence of compound 1 or 2 showed a complete lack of infectivity in human CD4(+) T cells, suggesting that the late stages of the HIV-1 life cycle were affected. Quantification of virion-associated viral RNA and p24 indicates that RNA packaging and viral production were unremarkable in these viruses. However, Gag and Gag-Pol processing was affected, as evidenced by immunoblot analysis with an anti-p24 antibody and the measurement of virion-associated reverse transcriptase activity, ratifying the effect of the fullerene derivatives on virion maturation of the HIV-1 life cycle. Surprisingly, fullerenes 1 and 2 did not inhibit HIV-1 protease in an in vitro assay at the doses that potently blocked viral infectivity, suggesting a protease-independent mechanism of action. Highlighting the potential therapeutic relevance of fullerene derivatives, these compounds block infection by HIV-1 resistant to protease and maturation inhibitors.

Rigid Tether Directed Regioselective Synthesis and Crystallographic Characterization of Labile 1,2,3,4-Bis(triazolino)[60]fullerene and Its Thermolized Derivatives

Labile bis-triazoline adducts of C60 are supposed to be the precursors of bis-azafulleroids, but the formation mechanism is still unclear because of the incomplete isolation of the thermolized products and the lack of X-ray structures. A rigid-tethered reagent 1,2-bis(azidomethyl)benzene (1) was used to regioselectively synthesize the labile 1,2,3,4-bis(triazolino)[60]-fullerene (2), the structure of which was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Further thermolysis of 2 produces four products (3 a-3 d), which were all characterized by X-ray crystallography. Although 3 a and 3 b have traditional bis-azafulleroid structures, as proposed previously, 3 c and 3 d show unprecedented structures with either the coexistence of [5,6]-open and [6,6]-closed patterns or an oxidized structure with an 11-membered ring on the cage. A thermolysis mechanism is proposed to clarify long-term confusion about the transformation process from bis-triazoline adducts to bis-azafulleroids of C60 .

Regioselective preparation of a bis-pyrazolinofullerene by a macrocyclization reaction

A single isomer of a pyrazolinofullerene bis-adduct was prepared by tether-directed remote functionalization. This bis-adduct has a lower LUMO than C₆₀.

Sterically controlled azomethine ylide cycloaddition polymerization of phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester

PCBM is polymerised using the SACAP route to give solution processable thin films and raised LUMOs.

Synthesis and Isolation of cis-2 Regiospecific Ethylene-Tethered Indene Dimer-[70]Fullerene Adduct for Polymer Solar Cell Applications

Although the utilization of [70]fullerene bis-adducts can enhance the power conversion efficiencies of polymer solar cells (PSCs) owing to their strong absorption intensities and high-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels, this synthetic strategy typically yields a mixture of regioisomers that would mask the intrinsic device performances depending on the substituent pattern on the [70]fullerene derivatives. In this study, a single cis-2 regioisomer of C70 bis-adduct (cis-2-[70]BIEC) has been prepared for the first time by the same strategy that had been applied to [60]fullerene to obtain a regioisomerically pure C60 bis-adduct (cis-2-[60]BIEC). Diels-Alder reaction was conducted between a rationally designed ethylene-tethered indene dimer and [70]fullerene, followed by isolation using high-performance liquid chromatography suitable for the separation of fullerene derivatives. A series of structural analysis techniques including NMR spectroscopies and X-ray crystallography were used to identify the absolute configuration of the bis-adduct. A systematic study on the optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of cis-2-[70]BIEC as well as the corresponding regioisomer mixture (bis-[70]BIEC) and the monoadduct (α-mono-[70]BIEC) has been performed to examine the effect of the pure cis-2 regioisomer. More importantly, their properties are compared with those of cis-2-[60]BIEC to address the effect of fullerene cage structures, that is, C60 versus C70. The PSC based on cis-2-[70]BIEC and poly(3-hexylthiophene) showed a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 4.2%, which is higher than those with bis-[70]BIEC (2.2%), α-mono-[70]BIEC (2.2%), cis-2-[60]BIEC (2.8%), and even a prevalent high-performance C70 monoadduct ([70]PCBM, 3.8%). Our synthetic strategy will pave the way for further development on the rational design and isolation of single fullerene bis-adduct regioisomers exhibiting high device performances.

A single cis-2 regioisomer of ethylene-tethered indene dimer–fullerene adduct as an electron-acceptor in polymer solar cells

A single cis-2 isomer of fullerene bis-adduct has been synthesized, isolated and applied as an electron-acceptor in polymer solar cells.