A rational chemical synthesis of C60.
Isolable quantities of C60, the smallest stable fullerene, have been synthesized in 12 steps from commercially available starting materials by rational chemical methods. A molecular polycyclic aromatic precursor bearing chlorine substituents at key positions forms C60 when subjected to flash vacuum pyrolysis at 1100 degrees C. No other fullerenes are formed as by-products. The methods we have developed for the target-specific synthesis of fullerenes, applied here to a synthesis of C60, should make possible the directed laboratory preparation of other fullerenes as well, including those not accessible by graphite vaporization.
Scott
Lawrence T
LT
Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3860, USA. lawrence.scott@bc.edu
Boorum
Margaret M
MM
McMahon
Brandon J
BJ
Hagen
Stefan
S
Mack
James
J
Blank
Jarred
J
Wegner
Hermann
H
de Meijere
Armin
A