Molecular catalysis for fullerene functionalization.

This account highlights elements of our efforts to explore new functionalization chemistry of fullerenes using molecular catalysts since 2006. These endeavors have led to the development of new reactions such as (i) organoboron addition to fullerenes, (ii) C-H bond allylation and arylation of organo(hydro)fullerenes, (iii) C-H/C-C bond cleavage of alkynyl(hydro)fullerenes, (iv) regioselective tetraallylation of fullerenes, (v) double nucleophilic substitution of aziridinofullerene, and (vi) [2+2] cycloaddition of aziridinofullerene with alkynes. These works not only highlight the potential of molecular catalysis for fullerene functionalization, but also unlock opportunities for markedly different strategies in nanocarbon synthesis.