Design and synthesis of multi-component 18 pi annulenic fluorofullerene ensembles suitable for donor-acceptor applications

Abstract

A series of trannulene (all-trans annulene) derivatives of [60]fullerene have been prepared by reacting C(60)F(18) with methanetricarboxylate esters that incorporate a range of photoactive functions. All the compounds have the intense emerald-green colour of fullerene trannulenes, characterised by strong bands at ca. 612 and 667 nm. Single crystal X-ray studies show that the packing varies with the nature of the addend, attributable to differing steric effects. UV/vis absorption spectra display transitions of the respective fullerene and addend models, indicating absence of electronic interactions between them in the ground state. These now provide an extensive series for testing photoactive..