Abstract
Reaction of[60]fullerene with lithium followed by MeI gives a range of derivatives containing either 2,4,6,8,10,12,14 and >16 methyl groups together with some oxide derivatives. The methylated fullerenes (especially the more addended ones) are remarkably soluble in solvents such as acetone and THF in which the fullerene itself is insoluble. The derivatives have been either partly or completely separated by HPLC and structural features have been determined for C60Me6 and C60Me8 (which is isostructural with C60Br8). Six isomers of C60Me4 have been detected, and both 1,2- and 1,4-C60Me2 have been isolated and characterised. 1,2-C60Me2 readily undergoes atmospheric oxidation, giving five oxide derivatives. On reduction 1,2-C60Me2 gives C60Me2H16 (18 site occupancies) whereas 1,4-C60Me2 gives C60Me2H34 (36 site occupancies). The corresponding methylation of [70]fullerene gives derivatives containing mainly 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 methyl groups. The 1,2- and 5,6-Me2C70 derivatives are produced in a 3.4:1 ratio.