Synthetic and Computational Studies on Symmetry-Defined Double Cycloaddition of a New Tris-Annulating Reagent to C60

A minimal cage of a diamond twin with chirality

Diamonds enchant people with their beauty, which has also been defined by mathematics. The existence of strong isotropy with maximal symmetry in carbon networks has been mathematically disclosed, which has led to a proposal of a diamond twin. Unlike tetrahedral vertices of the diamond, trigonal vertices of the diamond twin achieve strong isotropy, notably, with chirality. In the diamond twin, 14 trigonal vertices are connected by 15 edges to form a minimal cage. Although the diamond-twin network indeed had a four-decade history in theory, it remained imaginary in reality due to its inevitable instability of the minimal cage. In this paper, the carbonaceous minimal cage of the diamond twin has been synthesized, which reveals unique structural features including helical chirality.

A network of tetrahedral vertices can fill three-dimensional (3D) spaces in a beautiful and isotropic manner, which is found as diamonds with sp³-hybridized carbon atoms. Although a network of trigonal vertices (i.e., another form of carbon atoms with sp²-hybridization) naturally results in a lower-dimensional two-dimensional network of graphenes, an isotropic 3D arrangement of trigonal vertices has been of theoretical and mathematical interest, which has materialized as a proposal of a “diamond twin.” We herein report the synthesis and optical resolution of a minimal cage of a chiral diamond-twin network. With triangular phenine units at 14 vertices, triply fused decagonal rings were assembled by forming 15 biaryl edges via coupling. A unique chirality of the network has been disclosed with the minimal cage, which may stimulate explorations of chiral carbonaceous materials.

An Obtuse-angled Corner Unit for Fluctuating Carbon Nanohoops

The invention of corner units was the key factor that allowed the synthesis of cyclo-para-phenylenes with strained curved π-systems. Despite only a few scarce instances of the development of corner units to date, a variety of structural congeners have been synthesized. These preceding corner units commonly possessed directing angles of ≤90°, which enabled the macrocyclization of multiple units, up to six. In this study, we introduce an obtuse-angled corner unit for the synthesis of cyclo-para-phenylene congeners. The corner unit with oxanorbornadiene possessed a directing angle of 126° and thus allowed for the macrocyclization of larger structures with up to seven units. Reductive aromatization was applicable to complete the cyclo-para-phenylene structures and afforded the congeners with multiple anthracenylene panels. Structural studies with experimental and theoretical methods revealed a fluctuating structure with an intrinsic non-belt shape.

Stereoisomerism, crystal structures, and dynamics of belt-shaped cyclonaphthylenes

The chemistry of a belt-shaped cyclic array of aromatic panels, a so-called "nanohoop," has increasingly attracted much interest, partly because it serves as a segmental model of single-wall carbon nanotubes with curved sp(2)-carbon networks. Although the unique molecular structure of nanohoops is expected to deepen our understanding in curved π-systems, its structural chemistry is still in its infancy despite structural variants rapidly accumulated over the past several years. For instance, structural characteristics that endow the belt shapes with rigidity, an important structural feature relevant to carbon nanotubes, have not been clarified to date. We herein report the synthesis and structures of a series of belt-shaped cyclonaphthylenes. Random synthesis methods using three precursor units with different numbers of naphthylene panels allowed us to prepare 6 congeners consisting of 6 to 11 naphthylene panels, and relationships between the rigidity and the panel numbers, i.e., molecular structures, were investigated. Fundamental yet complicated stereoisomerism in the belt-shaped structures was disclosed by mathematical methods, and dynamics in the panel rotation was revealed by dynamic NMR studies with the aid of theoretical calculations.

Structural fluctuation of disilanyl double-pillared bisheteroarenes

Silacyclophanes possessing two disilanyl pillars were synthesized from tricyclic heteroarenes in one-pot synthetic procedures. The step-like anti structures of three congeners bearing two heteroarene units were revealed in single crystals by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Depending on the structures of aromatic units, torsion angles at the disilanyl pillars altered to maintain the overall step-like molecular structures. The structure, however, fluctuated between anti and syn conformers in a solution phase despite the presence of eight methyl groups on the ring periphery. The analysis of the coalescence temperature with NMR spectroscopy showed the fundamental energetics of the dynamics. The subtle structural differences affected the dynamic behavior of the silacyclophanes.

Unexpected reactions of [60]fullerene involving tertiary amines and insight into the reaction mechanisms

Thermal reactions of [60]fullerene with amino acid ester hydrochlorides and triethylamine in o-dichlorobenzene at reflux afforded pyrrolidinofullerene derivatives containing the CH(3)CH moiety and originating from triethylamine through an unusual C-N bond cleavage. Detailed investigation of these thermal reactions resulted in the discovery of unprecedented reactions between C(60) and tertiary amines and of reactions of C(60) with tertiary amines and aldehydes, giving cyclopentafullerene derivatives with high stereoselectivity. Plausible reaction mechanisms for the product formation involving the uncommon C-N bond cleavage of tertiary amines were proposed on the basis of extensive experimental results.

Tether-Directed Selective Synthesis of Fulleropyrrolidine Bisadducts

Selective synthesis of C60 bisadducts has been achieved by using the Prato 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of tethered bis-azomethine ylides. New bis(benzaldehydes) 1-4 tethered by a rigid linker were prepared and used to direct the second cycloaddition of azomethine ylide to C60. Equatorial, trans-4, trans-3, trans-2, and trans-1 bisadducts have been selectively prepared with this approach. However, the introduction of chiral centers in the pyrrolidine rings in the course of the reaction complicated the chemistry, as a number of stereoisomers theoretically could be formed. The structure determination of the isomeric bisadducts was made based on spectroscopic data and theoretical calculations. To our best knowledge, this represents the first example of a systematic study on tether-directed selective synthesis of C60 fulleropyrrolidine bisadducts.

Synthesis oftrans-1,trans-2,trans-3, andtrans-4 Bisadducts of C60by Regio- and Stereoselective Tether-Directed Remote Functionalization

The double Bingel reaction of fullerene C60 with bismalonates attached to a Tröger base derived tether afforded trans-1, trans-2, trans-3, and trans-4 bisadducts with excellent regioselectivity. In particular, enantiomerically pure bisadducts with inherently chiral trans-2 or trans-3 addition patterns were prepared starting from enantiomerically pure bismalonates. The absolute configuration of the trans-2 and trans-3 bisadducts was established from their CD spectra. The excellent diastereoselectivity in the double additions to give the trans-2 bisadducts is particularly remarkable given the large distance between the two reacting bonds in opposite hemispheres of the fullerene that is spanned by the tether. Now, all inherently chiral double addition patterns are readily available by tether-directed functionalization using appropriate chiral, nonracemic spacers.

New concepts for regio- and stereoselective bis- and triscyclopropanations of C60

The synthesis of isomerically multiple adducts of C(60) with a defined three-dimensional structure is still one of the most challenging tasks of exohedral fullerene chemistry. The inherent regioselectivity of successive additions of addends such as malonates to the fullerene's [6,6]-double bonds is only moderate. In most cases difficult-to-isolate mixtures of regioisomers are obtained. The regioselectivity can be significantly improved if multifunctional addends able to undergo two or more additions are allowed to react with C(60). Preorganization and minimization of strain energy within the addend skeleton reduce the number of sterically allowed addition patterns. Improved concepts for highly regio- and stereoselective bis- and triscyclopropanations of C(60) are described. Two examples of the bisadditions with complete regioselectivity leading to trans-2- and cis-2 are presented. Here, the two malonate binding sites are linked by rigid tetraphenylporphyrin and calix-[4]-arene spacers. Selective trisadditions were achieved with the easy-to-synthesize and easy-to-modify tripodal addends 5-7, where the malonates are held together by a focal aryl moiety. Another very elegant approach for bis- and trisadditions involves cyclo-[n]-alkylmalonates. Selection between addition patterns with and without rotational axes is possible by choosing the right combinations of the flexible alkyl chains connecting the malonates. If alkyl chains of identical lengths are used bis- and trisadducts such as 19-21 and 25 with rotational symmetry are formed with high regioselectivity. These addition patterns are avoided if cyclo-[n]-malonates containing alkyl chains of different lengths are employed. In this case adducts such as 26 and 27 with C(s)-symmetry are formed. The use of the chiral cyclo-[3]-malonate 28 allows for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of the enantiomerically pure e,e,e-trisadducts 29 and 30 containing an inherently chiral addition pattern with C(3)-symmetry.

Functionalized fullerenes in water. The first 10 years of their chemistry, biology, and nanoscience

Fullerenes are entirely insoluble in water, but suitable functionalization makes the molecules soluble. Studies on water-soluble fullerene derivatives led to the discovery of the interaction of organofullerenes with DNA, proteins, and living cells, which was first reported in the summer of 1993. Subsequent studies have revealed interesting biological activity aspects of organofullerenes owing to their photochemistry, radical quenching, and hydrophobicity to form one- to three-dimensional supramolecular complexes. In these areas of research, synthetic organic chemistry has played an important role in the creation of tailor-made molecules.

Isolation and characterization of all eight bisadducts of fulleropyrrolidine derivatives

We report the isolation and characterization of bisadducts of fulleropyrrolidine derivatives. The compounds were characterized by means of a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including ES-MS, UV-vis, (1)H NMR, and (13)C NMR. The whole series of bisadducts was separated for the first time in the case of the bispyrrolidines, and the determination of their structure was obtained by NMR spectroscopy with the help of HMQC and HMBC techniques.

Synthesis and Chemistry of Fullerene Derivatives Bearing Phosphorus Substituents. Unusual Reaction of Phosphines with Electron-Deficient Acetylenes and C(60)

A unique method to introduce phosphorus substituents onto C(60) is based on the reaction of phosphines with acetylenes and C(60). Treatment of C(60) with phosphines (PR(3)) and electron-deficient acetylenes (A) in toluene at ambient temperature gave fullerene derivatives (1, R = C(6)H(5) and A = MeO(2)CC&tbd1;CCO(2)Me; 2, R = C(6)D(5) and A = MeO(2)CC&tbd1;CCO(2)Me; 3, R = C(6)H(5) and A = EtO(2)CC&tbd1;CCO(2)Et; 4, R = p-CH(3)C(6)H(5) and A = MeO(2)CC&tbd1;CCO(2)Me; 6, R = C(6)H(5) and A = trans-MeO(2)CC&tbd1;CCH=CHCO(2)Me) consisting of a phosphorus ylide group and a cyclopropane ring on the fullerene moiety in good to excellent yields. The structures of these ylide derivatives are determined on the basis of their spectral data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. All these ylides show temperature-dependent NMR spectra that can be rationalized on the basis of interchange between two Z,E isomers and restricted rotation of the substituents on the fullerene moiety. Based on the known chemistry of phosphines and acetylenes, we propose a mechanism to account for the formation of these ylide derivatives. Phosphine ylides 1 and 4 readily undergo protonation and decarboxylation in the presence of acid to give phosphonium salts 7 and 8, respectively.

Saccharide Libraries as Potential Templates for Regio- and Chiroselective Introduction of Two Functional Groups into [60]Fullerene

This paper reports regio- and chiroselective introduction of two boronic acid groups into [60]fullerene controlled by a saccharide used as a template molecule. The double [4+2] cycloadditions between [60]fullerene and 1:2 saccharide-boronic acid complexes 6-9 afforded [60]fullerene-bisadducts 12. Their structures were identified on the basis of (1)H and (13)C NMR, UV-vis, and CD spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and chiral HPLC analysis. When 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (4) was used as the template molecule, high regioselectivity was achieved which gave trans-4 isomer 12a as a main isomer in 72.5% yield. The chiro- as well as regioselective preparation of e isomer 12c was attained in 81.4% ee from the 55.7% yield racemic mixture by the reaction using the D-mannitol-3,4-carbonate template (3). When the enantiomers, D-threitol (D-2) and L-threitol (L-2) were used as the templates, cis-3 isomers 12b and ent-12b with opposite chirality were yielded in 44.2 and 45.2% ee, respectively. On the other hand, 1-O-methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside template (5) featured nonselective cycloaddition.

Novel Bismethanofullerenes and Ethenofullerene from the Reaction of Propiolates with C(60) in the Presence of Triphenylphosphine

Methyl propiolate reacts with C(60) in the presence of triphenylphosphine in toluene to give a bismethanofullerene 2. Compound 2 is an adduct of two methyl propiolate units to a C(60) moiety and consists of two methano bridges across two 6,6-ring junctions of the same six-membered ring on the fullerene moiety. Similarly, ethyl propiolate reacts with C(60) in the presence of PPh(3) to yield bismethanofullerene 3. Detailed analysis of the products from the reaction of methyl propiolate with C(60) shows, in addition to 2 and C(60), an ethenofullerene 4 and an unidentified insoluble material were isolated. Compound 4, which may be viewed as a [2 + 2] cycloaddition adduct of C(60) and methyl propiolate, consists of a cyclobutene ring fused to the carbons on a 6,6-ring junction of the C(60) moiety. On the basis of the known chemistry of phosphine with electron-withdrawing alkynes and C(60), mechanisms are proposed to account for the formation of the bismethanofullerenes 2 and 3 and ethenofullerene 4.