Kamran B. Ghiassi

Synthesis and Structure of LaSc2N@Cs(hept)‐C80 with One Heptagon and Thirteen Pentagons

The synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structural characterization of the first endohedral metallofullerene to contain a heptagon in the carbon cage are reported. The carbon framework surrounding the planar LaSc2N unit in LaSc2N@C(s)(hept)-C80 consists of one heptagon, 13 pentagons, and 28 hexagons. This cage is related to the most abundant Ih-C80 isomer by one Stone-Wales-like, heptagon/pentagon to hexagon/hexagon realignment. DFT computations predict that LaSc2N@C(s)(hept)-C80 is more stable than LaSc2N@D5h-C80, and suggests that the low yield of the heptagon-containing endohedral fullerene may be caused by kinetic factors.

Beyond the Butterfly: Sc2C2@C2v(9)-C86, an Endohedral Fullerene Containing a Planar, Twisted Sc2C2 Unit with Remarkable Crystalline Order in an Unprecedented Carbon Cage

The synthesis, isolation, and characterization of a new endohedral fullerene, Sc2C88, is reported. Characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that it is the carbide Sc2C2@C(2v)(9)-C86 with a planar, twisted Sc2C2 unit inside a previously unseen C(2v)(9)-C86 fullerene cage.

Isolation of CeLu2N@Ih‐C80 through a Non‐Chromatographic, Two‐Step Chemical Process and Crystallographic Characterization of the Pyramidalized CeLu2N within the Icosahedral Cage

By combining two chemical methods of purification, 4 mg of purified CeLu2 N@C80 was readily isolated from 500 mg of carbon soot extract without the use of recycling HPLC, a method which has previously been necessary to obtain pure samples of endohedral fullerenes. In stage 1, CeLu2 N@C80 was selectively precipitated by virtue of its low first oxidation potential (+0.01 V) and the judicious choice of MgCl2 as the Lewis acid precipitant. For stage 2, we used a stir and filter approach (SAFA), which employed the electron-rich NH2 groups immobilized on silica gel to selectively bind residual endohedrals and higher cage fullerenes that were contaminants from stage 1. Crystallographic analysis of CeLu2 N@C80 in the co-crystal CeLu2 N@Ih -C80 ⋅Ni(octaethylporphyrin)⋅2(toluene) reveals that the Ih -C80 cage is present with a pyramidalized CeLu2 N unit inside.

Synthesis and Isolation of the Titanium-Scandium Endohedral Fullerenes-Sc2TiC@Ih-C80, Sc2TiC@D5h-C80 and Sc2TiC2@Ih-C80: Metal Size Tuning of the TiIV/TiIII Redox Potentials

Abstract The formation of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) in an electric arc is reported for the mixed‐metal Sc–Ti system utilizing methane as a reactive gas. Comparison of these results with those from the Sc/CH4 and Ti/CH4 systems as well as syntheses without methane revealed a strong mutual influence of all key components on the product distribution. Whereas a methane atmosphere alone suppresses the formation of empty cage fullerenes, the Ti/CH4 system forms mainly empty cage fullerenes. In contrast, the main fullerene products in the Sc/CH4 system are Sc4C2@C80 (the most abundant EMF from this synthesis), Sc3C2@C80, isomers of Sc2C2@C82, and the family Sc2C2 n (2 n=74, 76, 82, 86, 90, etc.), as well as Sc3CH@C80. The Sc–Ti/CH4 system produces the mixed‐metal Sc2TiC@C2 n (2 n=68, 78, 80) and Sc2TiC2@C2 n (2 n=80) clusterfullerene families. The molecular structures of the new, transition‐metal‐containing endohedral fullerenes, Sc2TiC@Ih‐C80, Sc2TiC@D 5h‐C80, and Sc2TiC2@Ih‐C80, were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The structure of Sc2TiC@Ih‐C80 was also determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which demonstrated the presence of a short Ti=C double bond. Both Sc2TiC‐ and Sc2TiC2‐containing clusterfullerenes have Ti‐localized LUMOs. Encapsulation of the redox‐active Ti ion inside the fullerene cage enables analysis of the cluster–cage strain in the endohedral fullerenes through electrochemical measurements.

Reactivity comparison of five-and six-membered cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes in oxidative addition reactions

The compound [PtMe(bzpy)(DMSO)] (1; bzpy = 2-benzylpyridinate) was synthesized by reaction of cis-[PtMe2(DMSO)2] with 1 equiv. of bzpyH under reflux conditions in toluene through C–H activation of the carbon–hydrogen bond in 2-benzylpyridine. Then, the complex [PtMe(bzpy)(PPh3)], 2, was prepared by addition of PPh3 to complex 1. Complex 2 undergoes oxidative addition with methyl iodide to give [PtMe2I(bzpy)(PPh3)], 3. NMR spectroscopy (1H and 31P) and X-ray crystallography (supported by DFT calculations) clearly showed that the thermodynamic isomer product 3, with iodide trans to C of bzpy rather than the related kinetic isomer, 3, in which iodide is trans to methyl, is obtained. Mechanistic studies using UV-vis spectroscopy and DFT calculations indicate that the reaction occurs via a SN2 mechanism. The kinetic study of the oxidative addition of methyl iodide to the non-planar, six-membered cyclometalated complex with that of the five-membered cyclometalated [PtMe(ppy)(PPh3)], in which ppy = 2-phenylpyridinate, shows that the ring size of the chelating unit has a significant impact on the rate of the reaction.

Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of Gd3N@D2(35)-C88 through Non-Chromatographic Methods

While several nonchromatographic methods are available for the isolation and purification of endohedral fullerenes of the type M3N@Ih-C80, little work has been done that would allow other members of the M3N@C2n family to be isolated with minimal chromatography. Here, we report that Gd3N@D2(35)-C88 can be isolated from the multitude of endohedral and empty cage fullerenes present in carbon soot obtained by electric-arc synthesis using Gd2O3-doped graphite rods. The procedure developed utilizes successive precipitation with the Lewis acids CaCl2 and ZnCl2 followed by treatment with amino-functionalized silica gel. The structure of the product was identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Orientational variation, solvate composition and molecular flexibility in well-ordered cocrystals of the fullerene C70 with bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene

Cocrystallization of C70 with bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (ET) produces two different solvates, C70·ET·C6H6 and 2C70·2ET·CS2, which show distinctly different overlap between the fullerene and ET molecules.

Formation of a Stable Complex, RuCl2(S2CPPh3)(PPh3)2, Containing an Unstable Zwitterion from the Reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with Carbon Disulfide.

New insight into the complexity of the reaction of the prominent catalyst RuCl2(PPh3)3 with carbon disulfide has been obtained from a combination of X-ray diffraction and (31)P NMR studies. The red-violet compound originally formulated as a cationic π-CS2 complex, [RuCl(π-CS2)(PPh3)3]Cl, has been identified as a neutral molecule, RuCl2(S2CPPh3)(PPh3)2, which contains the unstable zwitterion S2CPPh3. In the absence of RuCl2(PPh3)3, there is no sign of a reaction between triphenylphosphine and carbon disulfide, although more basic trialkylphosphines form red adducts, S2CPR3. Despite the presence of an unstable ligand, RuCl2(S2CPPh3)(PPh3)2 is remarkably stable. It survives melting at 173-174 °C intact, is stable to air, and undergoes reversible electrochemical oxidation to form a monocation. When the reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with carbon disulfide is conducted in the presence of methanol, crystals of orange [RuCl(S2CPPh3)(CS)(PPh3)2]Cl·2MeOH and yellow RuCl2(CS)(MeOH)(PPh3)2 also form. (31)P NMR studies indicate that the unsymmetrical dinuclear complex (SC)(Ph3P)2Ru(μ-Cl)3Ru(PPh3)2Cl is the initial product of the reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with carbon disulfide. A path connecting the isolated products is presented.

Utilization of a Nonemissive Triphosphine Ligand to Construct a Luminescent Gold(I)-Box That Undergoes Mechanochromic Collapse into a Helical Complex

Luminescent gold(I) complexes ([Au6(Triphos)4Cl](PF6)5·2(CH3C6H5), [Au6(Triphos)4Cl](AsF6)5·8(CH3C6H5), and [Au6(Triphos)4Cl](SbF6)5·7(CH3C6H5) where Triphos = bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine) with a boxlike architecture have been prepared and crystallographically characterized. A chloride ion resides at the center of the box with two of the six gold(I) ions nearby. Mechanical grinding of blue luminescent crystals containing the cation, [Au6(Triphos)4Cl]5+, results in their conversion into amorphous solids with green emission that contain the bridged helicate cation, [μ-Cl{Au3(Triphos)2}2]5+. A mechanism of the mechanochromic transformation is proposed. The structures of the blue-emitting helicate, [Au3(Triphos)2](CF3SO3)3·4(CH3C6H5)·H2O, and the green-emitting bridged-helicate, [μ-Cl{Au3(Triphos)2}2](PF6)5·3CH3OH have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Regioselective Synthesis and Crystallographic Characterization of Isoxazoline-Ring-Fused Derivatives of Sc3N@Ih-C80 and C60

Highly regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,5-dichloro-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzonitrile oxide (1) to Sc3N@Ih-C80 or C60 affords the corresponding isoxazoline-ring-fused derivatives Sc3N@Ih-C80(C10H9O4NCl2) (2a) and C60(C10H9O4NCl2) (2b). 2a represents the first example of an endohedral metallofullerene derivative with an isoxazoline ring. Crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic studies reveal a [5,6]-bond addition pattern in 2a but a [6,6]-bond addition manner in 2b.