title: Encapsulation of molecular hydrogen in fullerene C60 by organic synthesis.
abstract: In spite of their importance in fundamental and applied studies, the preparation of endohedral fullerenes has relied on difficult-to-control physical methods. We report a four-step organic reaction that completely closes a 13-membered ring orifice of an open-cage fullerene. This process can be used to synthesize a fullerene C60 encapsulating molecular hydrogen, which can be isolated as a pure product. This molecular surgical method should make possible the preparation of a series of C60 fullerenes, encapsulating either small atoms or molecules, that are not accessible by conventional physical methods.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan. komatsu@scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Michihisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Yasujiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata