Polyhydrogenation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with Zn/HCl and Zn/DCl

Darwish, A. D., Abdul-Sada, A. K., Langley, G. J., Kroto, H. W., Taylor, R. and Walton, D. R.M. (1996) Polyhydrogenation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with Zn/HCl and Zn/DCl. Synthetic Metals, 77 (1-3), 303-307. (doi:10.1016/0379-6779(96)80107-X).

Abstract

Previous work on polyhydrogenation of fullerenes leading to C₆₀H₃₆ and C₇₀H₃₆ as the main products is reviewed. The most probable structures of these species, based on their aromaticities, are presented. Zinc/concentrated HCl is shown to be an excellent and rapid reducing agent for benzene or toluene solutions of fullerenes at room temperature. The polyhydrogenated species are unstable towards light and undergo oxidative degradation, with, in the case of C₆₀H₃₆, formation of C₆₀H₁₈ as an intermediate. Reduction of these fullerenes by zinc/concentrated DCl gives C₆₀H₄₄ and C₇₀H₄₈ as the highest hydrogenated products; the greater incorporation of deuterium is attributed to the greater C-D bond energy. In the absence of light and oxygen, C₆₀H₃₆ exhibits high thermal stability. Attempted further reduction of C₆₀H₃₆ leads to formation of trimethylene adducts; these are also formed on reduction of [84]fullerenes which gives C₈₄H₄₈ as the main product.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Author: G. J. Langley

Download statistics