Cobalt-catalyzed hydroalkylation of [60]fullerene with active alkyl bromides: selective synthesis of monoalkylated fullerenes.

The Co-catalyzed hydroalkylation of C(60) with reactive alkyl bromides 1 (RBr) in the presence of Mn reductant and H(2)O at ambient temperature gave the monoalkylated C(60) (2) in good to high yields. The use of CoLn/Mn/H(2)O under Ar atmosphere is crucial for the success of the present transformation. The reaction most probably proceeds through the Co(0 or I) complex-promoted generation of a radical (R(•)) followed by addition to C(60). This hydroalkylation method was applied to the synthesis of zinc porphyrin attached C(60) (2l), dendrimer attached C(60) (2m), and fullerene dimer (2n), which were not easily available through the previously known methods.