title: A rational chemical synthesis of C60.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3860, USA. lawrence.scott@bc.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boorum
authors.forename: Brandon J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: Jarred
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Meijere