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Synthetic challenges toward anomalous structures and electronic states often involve handling problems such as insolubility in common organic solvents and oxidative degradation under aerobic conditions. We designed benzo-annulated aza[ n ]helicenes, which benefit from both the suppressed elevation of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energies and high solubility due to hydrogen bonding with solvent molecules to overcome these challenges. This strategy enabled the synthesis of six new aza[ n ]helicenes ( [ n ]AH s) of different lengths ( n = 9-19) from acyclic precursors via one-pot intramolecular oxidative fusion reactions. The structures of all of the synthesized aza[ n ]helicenes were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and their electrochemical potentials were measured by cyclic voltammetry. Among the synthesized aza[ n ]helicenes, [17]AH and [19]AH are the first heterohelicenes with a triple-layered helix. The noncovalent interaction (NCI) plots confirm the existence of an effective π-π interaction between the layers. The absorption and fluorescence spectra red-shifted as the helical lengths increased, without any distinct saturation points. The optical resolutions of N -butylated [9]AH , [11]AH , [13]AH , and [15]AH were accomplished, and their circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) were measured. Thus, the structural, (chir)optical, and electrochemical properties of the aza[ n ]helicenes were comprehensively analyzed.

Fullerenes are among the most commonly used electron-transporting materials (ETMs) in inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs). Although versatile functionalized fullerene derivatives have shown excellent performance in IPSCs, pristine [60]fullerene (C 60 ) is still the most widely used in devices mainly because of its uniform morphology by thermal deposition. However, thermally evaporable fullerene derivatives have not yet been achieved. Herein, we developed a series of evaporable fullerene derivatives, referred to as fullerene indanones (FIDOs), affording IPSCs with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term storage stability. The FIDOs were designed with a unique architecture in which the fullerene moiety and a benzene ring moiety are linked via a five-membered carbon ring in benzene ring plane. This molecular arrangement affords exceptional thermal stability, allowing the FIDOs to withstand harsh thermal deposition conditions. Moreover, by manipulating the steric bulk of the functional groups, we could control the state of the organic film from crystalline to amorphous. Subsequently, we used FIDOs as an electron transport layer (ETL) in IPSCs. Thanks to the suitable energy level and dual-passivation effect of FIDOs compared with a reference ETL using C 60 , the device using FIDOs achieved an open-circuit voltage of 1.16 V and a fill factor of 0.77. As a result, the PCE reached 22.11%, which is superior to 20.45% of the best-performing reference device. Most importantly, the FIDO-based IPSC devices exhibited exceptional stability in comparison to the reference device due to the stability of the amorphous ETL films.

Detection of metabolic activity enables us to reveal the inherent metabolic state of cells and elucidate mechanisms underlying cellular homeostasis and growth. However, a fluorescence approach for the study of metabolic pathways is still largely unexplored. Herein, we have developed a new chemical probe for the fluorescence-based detection of fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO), a key process in lipid catabolism, in cells and tissues. This probe serves as a substrate of FAO and forms a reactive quinone methide (QM) as a result of metabolic reactions. The liberated QM is covalently captured by intracellular proteins, and subsequent bio-orthogonal ligation with a fluorophore enables fluorescence analysis. This reaction-based sensing allowed us to detect FAO activity in cells at a desired emission wavelength using diverse analytical techniques including fluorescence imaging, in-gel fluorescence activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The probe was able to detect changes in FAO activity induced by chemical modulators in cultured cells. The probe was further employed for fluorescence imaging of FAO in mouse liver tissues and revealed the metabolic heterogeneity of FAO activity in hepatocytes by the combination of FACS and gene expression analysis, highlighting the utility of our probe as a chemical tool for fatty acid metabolism research.

Efficient uptake of small to large guests, with a large difference in relative size, is quite rare for synthetic host compounds. Herein we designed and prepared a micellar capsule, composed of bent amphiphiles bearing two adamantyl groups, as a new host with a well-defined nanostructure. Unlike previous covalent, coordination, and hydrogen-bonding hosts, the adamantane-based capsule displays unusual uptake abilities toward spherical molecules with small (∼0.6 nm in diameter; e.g., adamantane) to medium size (∼1 nm; e.g., fullerene) as well as large size (∼3 nm; i.e., metal-organic polyhedra (MOP)), where the size differences are up to 5-fold, in water. Moreover, the resultant MOP-uptaking capsule incorporates medium-sized molecules (e.g., perylene and eosin Y) into the polyhedral cavity to generate ternary core-shell structures.

High efficiency perovskite solar cells have underpinned the rapid growth of the field. However, their low device stability limits further advancement. Hygroscopic lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Li + TFSI - ) and metal electrode are the main causes of the device instability. In this work, the redox reaction between lithium-ion endohedral fullerenes and 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis( N , N -di- p -methoxyphenylamine)-9,9'-spirobi-fluorene (spiro-MeOTAD) was controlled to optimize the amount of oxidized spiro-MeOTAD and antioxidizing neutral endohedral fullerenes. Application of this mixture to metal-free carbon nanotube (CNT)-laminated perovskite solar cells resulted in 17.2% efficiency with a stability time of more than 1100 h under severe conditions (temperature = 60 °C, humidity = 70%). Such high performance is attributed to the uninhibited charge flow, no metal-ion migration, and the enhanced antioxidizing activity of the devices.

We demonstrate that binary mixtures of small and large gold nanoparticles (GNPs) (5/15, 5/30, 10/30, and 15/30 nm in diameter) in the presence of a glucose-terminated fluorinated oligo(ethylene glycol) ligand can spontaneously form size-segregated assemblies. The outermost layer of the assembly is composed of a single layer of small-sized GNPs, while the larger-sized GNPs are located in the interior, forming what is referred to as a yolk/shell assembly. Time course study reveals that small and large GNPs aggregate together, and these kinetically trapped aggregations were transformed into a size-segregated structure by repeating fusions. A yolk/shell structure was directly visualized in solution by X-ray laser diffraction imaging, indicating that the structure was truly formed in solution, but not through a drying process.

Despite tremendous progress in optoelectronic devices using lead perovskite (CH3NH3(+)PbI3(-)), there has been a paucity of mechanistic information on how photoactive micron-sized crystals of lead perovskite grow from a mixture of a layered crystal of lead(II) iodide and methylammonium iodide mediated by a polar solvent, DMSO or DMF. We report here that the whole process of the lead perovskite synthesis consists of a series of equilibria driven by reversible solvent participation involving a polymeric strip of plumbate(II) oligomer as a key intermediate. A significant finding includes quick decomposition of perovskite crystal upon exposure to DMSO or DMF at room temperature, where the solvent molecules act as a base to remove acidic ammonium iodide from the perovskite crystal. This observation accounts for the difficulty in controlling perovskite solar cell fabrication. Overall, the polar solvent is indispensible first to degrade a 2-D sheet of crystals of lead(II) iodide into 1-D fibrous intermediates and then to promote Oswald ripening of perovskite crystals. The detailed chemical information provided here will help to rationalize the photovoltaic device studies that have so far remained empirical and to open a new venue to a developing field of microscale lead perovskite devices, as illustrated by fabrication of photovoltaic devices and photodetectors.

Organic solar cells have been regarded as a promising electrical energy source. Transparent and conductive carbon nanotube film offers an alternative to commonly used ITO in photovoltaics with superior flexibility. This communication reports carbon nanotube-based indium-free organic solar cells and their flexible application. Direct and dry deposited carbon nanotube film doped with MoO(x) functions as an electron-blocking transparent electrode, and its performance is enhanced further by overcoating with, Pedot: PSS. The single-walled carbon nanotube organic solar cell in this work shows a power conversion efficiency of 6.04%. This value is 83% of the leading ITO-based device performance (7.48%). Flexible application shows 3.91% efficiency and is capable of withstanding a severe cyclic flex test.

A solid solution of a 75:25 mixture of tetrabenzoporphyrin (BP) and dichloroacenaphtho[q]tribenzo[b,g,l]porphyrin (CABP) forms when they are generated in a matrix of (dimethyl(o-anisyl)silylmethyl)(dimethylphenylsilylmethyl)[60]fullerene. This solid solution provides structural and optoelectronic properties entirely different from those of either pristine compounds or a mixture at other blending ratios. The use of this BP:CABP solid solution for organic solar cell (OSC) devices resulted in a power conversion efficiency (PCE) value higher by 16 and 300% than the PCE values obtained for the devices using the single donor BP and CABP, respectively, in a planar heterojunction architecture. This increase originates largely from the increase in short circuit current density, and hence by enhanced charge carrier separation at the donor/acceptor interface, which was probably caused by suitable energy level for the solid solution state, where electronic coupling between the two porphyrins occurred. The results suggest that physical and chemical modulation in solid solution is beneficial as an operationally simple method to enhance OSC performance.

In order to realize significant benefits from the assembly of solid-state materials from molecular cluster superatomic building blocks, several criteria must be met. Reproducible syntheses must reliably produce macroscopic amounts of pure material; the cluster-assembled solids must show properties that are more than simply averages of those of the constituent subunits; and rational changes to the chemical structures of the subunits must result in predictable changes in the collective properties of the solid. In this report we show that we can meet these requirements. Using a combination of magnetometry and muon spin relaxation measurements, we demonstrate that crystallographically defined superatomic solids assembled from molecular nickel telluride clusters and fullerenes undergo a ferromagnetic phase transition at low temperatures. Moreover, we show that when we modify the constituent superatoms, the cooperative magnetic properties change in predictable ways.

We studied the kinetics of the Diels-Alder reaction of Li(+)-encapsulated [60]fullerene with 1,3-cyclohexadiene and characterized the obtained product, [Li(+)@C60(C6H8)](PF6(-)). Compared with empty C60, Li(+)@C60 reacted 2400-fold faster at 303 K, a rate enhancement that corresponds to lowering the activation energy by 24.2 kJ mol(-1). The enhanced Diels-Alder reaction rate was well explained by DFT calculation at the M06-2X/6-31G(d) level of theory considering the reactant complex with dispersion corrections. The calculated activation energies for empty C60 and Li(+)@C60 (65.2 and 43.6 kJ mol(-1), respectively) agreed fairly well with the experimentally obtained values (67.4 and 44.0 kJ mol(-1), respectively). According to the calculation, the lowering of the transition state energy by Li(+) encapsulation was associated with stabilization of the reactant complex (by 14.1 kJ mol(-1)) and the [4 + 2] product (by 5.9 kJ mol(-1)) through favorable frontier molecular orbital interactions. The encapsulated Li(+) ion catalyzed the Diels-Alder reaction by lowering the LUMO of Li(+)@C60. This is the first detailed report on the kinetics of a Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by an encapsulated Lewis acid catalyst rather than one coordinated to a heteroatom in the dienophile.

A singly bonded fullerene dimer [C60R]2 in the solid state thermally generates a pair of fullerene radicals C60R(•) that dissociate reversibly and irreversibly upon heating and cooling of the solid. The temperature dependence of the electron mobility of the solid shows striking nonlinearity, caused by the dissociation of a strongly interacting radical pair into two free radicals, which interact with the neighboring fullerene molecules to increase the mobility 10 times to a value of 1.5 × 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). The nonlinearity is due to the plastic crystalline nature of fullerene crystals.

The electron donor-acceptor dyads are an emerging class of materials showing important applications in nonlinear optics, dye-sensitized solar cells, and molecular electronics. Investigation of their structure and electron transfer at the molecular level provides insights into the structure-property relationship and can benefit the design and preparation of electron donor-acceptor dyad materials. Herein, the interface adstructure and electron transfer of buckyferrocene Fe(C60Me5)Cp, a typical electron donor-acceptor dyad, is directly probed using in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with theoretical simulations. It is found that the adsorption geometry and assembled structure of Fe(C60Me5)Cp is significantly affected by the electrochemical environments. In 0.1 M HClO4 solution, Fe(C60Me5)Cp forms well-ordered monolayers and multilayers on Au(111) surfaces with molecular dimer as the building block. In 0.1 M NaClO4 solution, typical six-fold symmetric close-packed monolayer with vertically adsorbed Fe(C60Me5)Cp is formed. Upon electrochemical oxidation, the oxidized Fe(C60Me5)Cp shows higher brightness in an STM image, which facilitates the direct visualization of the interfacial electrochemical electron transfer process. Theoretical simulation indicates that the electrode potential-activated, one-electron transfer from Fe(C60Me5)Cp to the electrode leads to the change of the delocalization character of the frontier orbital in the molecule, which is responsible for the STM image contrast change. This result is beneficial for understanding the structure and property of single electron donor-acceptor dyads. It also provides a direct approach to study the electron transfer of electron donor-acceptor compounds at the molecular level.

A cobalt-sulfur cluster Co8S15 with molecular formula of (C60Ar5)-Co8S15(n)Bu2-(C60Ar5) (Ar = 4-(t)BuC6H4) was selectively synthesized from a pentaaryl[60]fullerene cobalt trisulfide complex, (η(5)-C60Ar5)CoS3. The bowl-shaped steric templating fullerene ligand, as well as the metastable cobalt trisulfide moiety, played important roles in the exclusive cluster formation. X-ray crystallography, as well as electrochemical, time-resolved photophysical, and magnetic, measurements revealed a mixed-valence cluster with six cobalt(III) and two high-spin cobalt(II) centers showing reversible redox behavior and photoinduced charge separation.

Two types of thieno-bridged porphyrins were synthesized by incorporating a thiophene group across their meso and β positions with different directions of the thiophene ring to investigate the aromaticity of these porphyrins with extended π-systems. The 2,3-thieno-bridged porphyrin showed a larger antiaromatic contribution than did the 3,4-thieno-bridged porphyrin. In the former, the antiaromatic contribution is based on a 20-π-electron conjugated circuit. The two thieno-bridged porphyrins were characterized by calculations of nucleus-independent chemical shift and anisotropy of the induced current density as well as by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical studies, time-resolved excited-state analysis, and two-photon absorption cross section measurements. Chemical derivatization of the 2,3-thieno-bridged porphyrin was also demonstrated.

Here we show that essentially any Fe compounds spanning Fe salts, nanoparticles, and buckyferrocene could serve as catalysts for single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) forest growth when supported on AlO(x) and annealed in hydrogen. This observation was explained by subsurface diffusion of Fe atoms into the AlO(x) support induced by hydrogen annealing where most of the deposited Fe left the surface and the remaining Fe atoms reconfigured into small nanoparticles suitable for SWNT growth. Interestingly, the average diameters of the SWNTs grown from all iron compounds studied were nearly identical (2.8-3.1 nm). We interpret that the offsetting effects of Ostwald ripening and subsurface diffusion resulted in the ability to grow SWNT forests with similar average diameters regardless of the initial Fe catalyst., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

The surface properties of inorganic substrates can be altered by coating with organic molecules, which may result in the improvement of the properties suitable for electronic or biological applications. This article reports a systematic experimental study on the influence of the molecular and supramolecular properties of umbrella-shaped penta(organo)[60]fullerene derivatives, and on the work function and the water contact angle of indium-tin oxide (ITO) and gold surfaces. We could relate these macroscopic characteristics to single-molecular level properties, such as ionization potential and molecular dipole. The results led us to conclude that the formation of a SAM of a polar compound generates an electronic field through intermolecular interaction of the molecular charges, and this field makes the overall dipole of the SAM much smaller than the one expected from the simple sum of the dipoles of all molecules in the SAM. This effect, which was called depolarization and previously discussed theoretically, is now quantitatively probed by experiments. The important physical properties in surface science such as work function, ionization potential, and water contact angles have been mutually correlated at the level of molecular structures and molecular orientations on the substrate surface. We also found that the SAMs on ITO and gold operate under the same principle except that the "push-back" effect operates specifically for gold. The study also illustrates the ability of the photoelectron yield spectroscopy technique to rapidly measure the work function of a SAM-covered substrate and the ionization potential value of a molecule on the surface.

Heating a bulk sample of [60]fullerene complexes, (η(5)-C(5)H(5))MC(60)R(5) (M = Fe, Ru, R = Me, Ph), produces small hydrocarbons because of coupling of R and C(5)H(5) via C-C and C-H bond activation. Upon observation by transmission electron microscopy, these complexes, encapsulated in single-walled carbon nanotubes, underwent C-C bond reorganization reactions to form new C-C bond networks, including a structure reminiscent of [70]fullerene. Quantitative comparison of the electron dose required to effect the C-C bond reorganization of fullerenes and organofullerenes in the presence of a single atom of Ru, Fe, or Ln and in the the absence of metal atoms indicated high catalytic activity of Ru and Fe atoms, as opposed to no catalytic activity of Ln. Organic molecules such as hydrocarbons and amides as well as pristine [60]fullerene maintain their structural integrity upon irradiation by ca. 100 times higher electron dose compared to the Ru and Fe organometallics. The results not only represent a rare example of direct observation of a single-metal catalysis but also have implications for the use of single metal atom catalysis in Group 8 metal heterogeneous catalysis.

We describe a photoswitch fabricated on indium tin oxide (ITO) as a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of two fullerene molecules, a purely organic [60]fullerene that generates an anodic current and a [70]fullerene doped with a single iron atom. This device generates a bidirectional photocurrent upon irradiation at 340 and 490 nm. The new [70]fullerene iron complex bearing three rigid carboxylic acid legs, Fe[C(70)(C(6)H(4)C(6)H(4)COOH)(3)]Cp, generates only a cathodic current upon photoexcitation between 350 and 700 nm, whereas the organic [60]fullerene absorbs at wavelengths shorter than 500 nm. The quantum efficiency of the photocurrent generation by the mixed SAM is comparable to that of a single-component SAM, indicating that the individual diode molecules on ITO generate photocurrents independently with little cross talk.

1,2-Dihydromethano[60]fullerene and its congeners have attracted much interest, but they have been synthesized only in very low yields because of several insurmountable problems. A new three-stage synthesis involving addition of a silylmethylmagnesium chloride to [60]- and [70]fullerene and oxidation of the anionic intermediate with CuCl(2) afforded the methano[60]- and methano[70]fullerenes in 90% and 70% overall yield, respectively. The reaction with 1,4-diorgano[60]fullerene also proceeded smoothly to give a diastereomerically pure 56-π-electron fullerene that has a higher LUMO level than the parent fullerene and gave a higher open-circuit voltage and better power conversion efficiency when fabricated into an organic photovoltaic device., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

As a new class of neutral closed-shell aromatic four-membered ring systems, CoE(3) (E = S, Se) was constructed inside the bowl-shaped space of pentaaryl[60]fullerene. X-ray crystallographic analysis of CoS(3)(η(5)-C(60)Ar(5)) revealed that the CoS(3) unit is planar, and DFT calculations suggested an aromatic 6π-electron system. Steric protection by the pentaaryl[60]fullerene ligand is critical for isolation and characterization of the aromatic hetero cobaltacyclobutane. Unique reactivity of the CoS(3) unit was demonstrated by disruption of 6π-conjugation with abstraction of the sulfur atom, affording a dimer, [CoS(2)(η(5)-C(60)Ar(5))](2). This work provides new insight into the aromaticity of four-membered ring systems and advances the understanding of aromatic organometallic compounds., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

The installation of three structural features into a fullerene molecule, a conical shape, a polar iron-ferrocene complex, and long alkyl chains, allowed dipolar molecules 1 and 2 to undergo microphase separation and to form a three-dimensional lattice in a crystalline and a thermotropic liquid crystalline phase. The key feature is a tetrameric octupole-like aggregate, in which four dipoles are arranged supramolecularly to cancel the molecular polarity, forming a sphere. In addition to this lattice formation mechanism, the molecules incorporate noteworthy features, such as redox active C(60)/ferrocene and luminescent cyclophenacene.

A copper-catalyzed reaction of arylacetylene or enyne with C(60)Ar(5)Br effects a formal [4 + 2] annulation reaction to form a dihydronaphthalene ring fused to the fullerene core. The reaction involves a formal C-H bond activation and takes place by a copper-mediated radical mechanism. This reaction takes place in 60-75% overall yield from [60]fullerene and creates axial chirality in the product because of restricted rotation of the top aryl groups.

A pentapod deca(aryl)[60]fullerene, C(60)(C(6)H(4)CO(2)H)(5)(C(6)H(4)Fc)(5)Me(2) (4; Fc = ferrocenyl), bearing five carboxylic acid and five ferrocenyl groups was synthesized through top and bottom functionalization of [60]fullerene by means of copper-mediated penta-addition reactions. For electrochemical measurements (i.e., E(ox) = 0.08 V, five-electron oxidation of the ferrocenyl groups; E(red) = -1.89 and -2.28 V for the fullerene part vs Fc/Fc(+)), we used an ester-protected compound, C(60)(C(6)H(4)CO(2)Et)(5)(C(6)H(4)Fc)(5)Me(2) (2), and 4 was probed by performing femtosecond flash photolysis experiments in a variety of organic solvents. Importantly, the formation of a radical ion pair state was corroborated with lifetimes of up to 333 ps in toluene. In complementary studies, penta(carboxylic acid)-penta(ferrocenyl) compound 4 was deposited on indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes with a surface coverage (i.e., 0.14 nmol/cm(2)) that corresponded to a unique bilayer structure. Decisive for the bilayer motif is the presence of five ferrocenyl groups, which are assembled with a merry-go-round-shaped arrangement on the [60]fullerene. The novel 4/ITO photoelectrode gave rise to a cathodic photocurrent with a 12% quantum yield in the presence of methyl viologen, whereas an anodic photocurrent was generated in the presence of ascorbic acid for a C(60)(C(6)H(4)CO(2)H)(5)(C(6)H(5))(5)Me(2) (5)/ITO photoelectrode. Photophysical investigations revealed that the difference in photocurrent, that is, cathodic versus anodic photocurrents, is related to the nature of the excited state feature in 4 (i.e., charge separated state) and 5 (i.e., triplet excited state). The unique molecular architecture of 4, in combination with its remarkable donor-acceptor properties, validates the use of the pentapod deca(aryl)[60]fullerene in photoelectrochemically active molecular devices.

A pseudo-D(5d) symmetric decaaryl[60]fullerene molecule has a rigid bow-tie shape and bears an emissive [10]cyclophenacene chromophore in the middle. It forms a smectic liquid crystalline mesophase that persists over a wide temperature range (e.g., from 17 to 257 degrees C) and shows yellow photoluminescence both in solution and in the solid state (inset in the POM image). Because of the alignment of the cyclophenacene chromophore in the lamellas, the bulk liquid crystals exhibit anisotropic photoluminescence.

A new solution-processable fabrication protocol using a soluble tetrabenzoporphyrin (BP) precursor and bis(dimethylphenylsilylmethyl)[60]fullerene (SIMEF) created three-layered p-i-n photovoltaic devices, in which the i-layer possesses a well-defined bulk heterojunction structure in which columnar BP crystals grow vertically from the bottom p-layer. The device showed a power conversion efficiency of 5.2% (V(OC) = 0.75 V; J(SC) = 10.5 mA/cm(2); FF = 0.65).

The synthesis, structure, photoelectrochemical behavior, and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a symmetric acceptor-acceptor-donor-acceptor-acceptor array, C(60)-Co-TTF-Co-C(60), have been described. The precursors, namely, cobalt dicarbonyl complexes Co(C(60)Ar(5))(CO)(2) were synthesized from the penta(organo)[60]fullerenes, C(60)Ar(5)H, as starting materials. In the next step, two cobalt-fullerene complexes were connected to a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) tetrathiolate bridge to obtain the C(60)-Co-TTF-Co-C(60) array. In addition, the monomeric compounds, Co(C(60)Ar(5))(S(2)C(2)R(2)) (R = CO(2)Me and CN) and Co(C(60)Ar(5))(S(2)C(2)S(2) C = CS(2)C(2)R(2)) were synthesized as references. The C(60)-Co-TTF-Co-C(60) array exhibits very strong transitions in the near-infrared region (lambda(max) = 1,100 nm, epsilon = 30 000 M(-1) x cm(-1)) due to a ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer (LMCT) transition and six reversible electron transfer processes. In the crystal, a fullerene/TTF-layered packing structure is evident. Femtosecond flash photolysis revealed that photoexcitation of the array results in a charge separated state involving the strongly interacting cobaltadithiolene and TTF constituents which electronically relax via a resonance effect that extends all throughout the acceptor parts of the C(60)-Co-TTF-Co-C(60) array. The third-order NLO measurement of the array gave the magnitude of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility, |chi((3))|, values to be 9.28 x 10(-12) esu, suggesting the pi-conjugation of donors and acceptors in the array.

Quantum chemical calculations and various photophysical techniques, ranging from steady-state absorption and steady-state as well as time-resolved fluorescence to femtosecond pump-probe experiments, were employed to examine ground- and excited-state interactions in a set of novel double-decker buckyferrocenes (i.e., Fe(2)(C(60)Me(10))Cp(2)): C(2v) and D(5d) isomers. When compared to the individual reference systems, the intimate fullerene/ferrocene contacts reflect appreciable ground-state interactions, namely, substantial redistribution of charge density between the two electron donors (i.e., ferrocenes) and the electron acceptor (i.e., fullerene). Furthermore, an intervalence charge-transfer transition (i.e., ferrocene-ferrocenium interaction) was established, but only in the C(2v) isomer. The first insight into the electron donor-acceptor interactions came from inspecting the fullerene-centered fluorescence. Relative to the reference compounds that contain no ferrocene, which exhibit quantum yields of up to 0.1, and knowing that the fluorescence of the investigated double-decker type conjugates is quenched to 10(-3), transient absorption measurements prove unequivocally the rapid formation of the radical ion-pair states as the dominant products of excited-state deactivation in the double-decker buckyferrocenes. Despite these products having much higher lying radical ion-pair states relative to the corresponding single-decker buckyferrocene, their lifetimes, which vary between 12 and 39 ps, are slightly shorter.

Monoaddition of Grignard reagents, in particular tri(organo)silylmethylmagnesium chlorides, to [60]fullerene took place smoothly in the presence of dimethylformamide to produce (organo)(hydro)[60]fullerenes, C60R(1)H, in good yield (up to 93% isolated yield). The hydrofullerene was then deprotonated to generate the corresponding anion, C60R(-), which was then alkylated to obtain 58pi-electron di(organo)[60]fullerenes, C60R(1)R(2), in good to high yield (up to 93% overall yield). The two-step methodology provides a wide variety of 1,4-di(organo)[60] fullerenes bearing the same or different organic addends on the [60] fullerene core. By changing the addends, one can control the chemical and physical properties of the compounds at the molecular and bulk levels.

Compact, rigid, five-legged fullerene derivatives C60R5Me and M(C60R5)Cp (M = Fe and Ru; R = C6H4COOH, C6H4C6H4COOH, and CH2COOH) were synthesized and arrayed on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) surface. These devices exhibit a respectable quantum yield with photocurrent generation up to 18%, and, more importantly, the direction of the photocurrent can be changed not only by the molecular structure itself but also by changing the geometric configuration of the photoactive acceptor (fullerene) and donor (metal atom) on the ITO surface.

A series of conical molecules featuring a [60]fullerene/ferrocene hybrid and five aralkyl side chains (Fe[C60{C6H4-(OCO-C6H3-(OR)2-3,4)-4}5]Cp) have been synthesized and examined for their structural and electrochemical properties as well as their ability to form supramolecular structures in crystals and liquid crystals. When the R group on the side is a methyl group, the compound forms crystals in which the dipolar conical molecules are stacked head-to-tail to form a columnar structure. When the R group is as long as a C18H38 group, the compound forms liquid crystals. Oxidation of the liquid crystalline compound by an aminium salt [(4-BrC6H4)3N][SbCl6] produces the corresponding paramagnetic Fe(III) compound that also exhibits liquid crystalline properties.

We report on the singlet ground and singlet/triplet excited-state features of a series of bucky ferrocenes, bucky ruthenocenes, and respective reference compounds. In the bucky ferrocene conjugates, intimate contacts between the fullerenes and ferrocenes result in appreciable ground-state interactions-suggesting a substantial shift of charge density from the electron donor (i.e., ferrocene) to the electron acceptor (i.e., fullerene). In contrast, no prominent charge-transfer features were observed for the bucky ruthenocene conjugates. An arsenal of experimental techniques, ranging from fluorescence (i.e., steady state and time-resolved) and pump probe experiments (i.e., femtosecond and nanoseconds) to pulse radiolysis, were employed to examine excited-state interactions. In the excited states, bucky ferrocene conjugates are dominated by rapid charge separation reactions (0.8 +/- 0.1 ps) to yield metastable radical ion pairs. The radical ion pair lifetimes vary between 27 and 39 ps. No charge separation was, however, found in the corresponding bucky ruthenocence. Instead, an intrinsically faster excited-state deactivation (approximately 200 ps) evolves from the heavier ruthenium center-relative to iron. This effect is further augmented by the unfavorably shifted oxidation potential in ruthenocene of about 0.61 V, which in ruthenocene (-deltaG(ET) = -0.26 eV), in contrast to ferrocene (-deltaG(ET) = 0.35 eV), renders charge separation thermodynamically unfeasible.

D5d- and C5v-symmetric double-decker buckyferrocene Fe2(C60R10)Cp2 (R10 = Me5Ph5 and Me10) represents a new type of diiron complexes featuring conjugative connection of two ferrocene groups by a hoop-shaped [10]cyclophenacene. The compounds exhibit two-electron oxidation and two-electron reduction behavior, generating dicationic and dianionic species. The two iron atoms interact with each other through the pi-conjugation of the cyclophenacene, as revealed by differential pulse voltammetric analysis of the D5d Fe2(C60Me10)Cp2.

Regioselective multi-addition reaction of organocopper and amine compounds onto dihydrogen-encapsulated [60]fullerene, H2@C60, produced a variety of organic and organometallic derivatives of H2@C60. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of dihydrogen-encapsulated bucky ferrocene, Fe(H2@C60Ph5)C5H5, showed the presence of the dihydrogen molecule located almost in the center but slightly away from the ferrocene moiety. The 1H NMR chemical shift values for the encapsulated molecular hydrogen indicated that these values are susceptible to the magnetic environment of the inside as well as the outside of the fullerene cage.

Unprecedented supramolecular stacks of highly reduced geodesic pi-systems were prepared by the reduction of the derivatized fullerenes Me(5)C(60)H and Ph(5)C(60)H and corannulene with lithium metal (R(5)C(60)(5)(-)/Cor(4)(-)/9Li(+)). The host--guest assemblies form because of the enhanced electrostatic interactions between the lithium cations and the anionic moieties, in addition to the structural compatibility between the curved hydrocarbons. The high stability of these new supramolecular assemblies (heterodimers) enables the introduction of another organization motif to the system. This is achieved by using tethered corannulenes as host molecules, which leads to the formation of tethered bis-heterodimers ((Me(5)C(60)(5)(-)/Cor(4)(-))(2)(CH(2))(8)/18Li(+)).

Two-electron reduction of penta(organo)[60]fullerenes C(60)Ar(5)H (Ar = Ph and biphenyl) by potassium/mercury amalgam afforded potassium complexes of the corresponding open-shell radical dianions [K+(thf)n]2[C60Ar5(2-.)]. These compounds were characterized by UV-visible-near-IR and electron spin resonance spectroscopy in solution. Anaerobic crystallization of [K+(thf)n]2[C60(biphenyl)(5)(2-.)] that exists largely as a monomer in solution gave black crystals of its dimer [K+(thf)3]4[(biphenyl)5C60-C60(biphenyl)5(4-)], in which the two fullerene units are connected by a C-C single bond [1.577(11) A] as determined by X-ray diffraction. Three-electron reduction of C60Ar5H with metallic potassium gave a black-green trianion [K+(thf)n]3[C60Ar5(3-)]. The reaction of the trianion with an alkyl halide RBr (R = PhCH(2) and Ph(2)CH) regioselectively afforded a hepta-organofullerene C60Ar5R2H, from which a potassium complex [K+(thf)n][C60(biphenyl)5(CH2Ph)(2)(-)] and a palladium complex Pd[C60(biphenyl)5(CH2Ph)2](pi-methallyl) as well as octa-organofullerene compounds C60(biphenyl)5(CH2Ph)3H2 and Ru[C60(biphenyl)5(C2Ph)3H]Cp were synthesized. These compounds possess a dibenzo-fused corannulene pi-electron conjugated system and are luminescent.

Selective penta-addition of a methylcopper reagent followed by addition of a phenylcopper reagent to a suitably modified synthetic intermediate results in creation of 40pi-electron systems-hoop- and bowl-shaped cyclic benzenoid compounds, [10]cyclophenacene, and dibenzo-fused corannulene derivatives. The 40pi-electron cyclophenacene derivatives have been found to be chemically stable, yellow-colored, luminescent (560 nm), and EPR-silent. X-ray crystallographic analysis provided precision structural data sets. The dibenzo-fused corannulene derivatives exhibit blue-green (460 nm) to red (649 nm) fluorescence.

Hexagonal or tetragonal packing of columnar stacks in crystals and liquid crystals has been observed for a series of molecules possessing a fullerene apex and an aromatic cone that are connected with a Si-C connection. The columnar stacking of the new shuttlecock molecules is constitutionally stable but conformationally flexible due to the large cavity created on the top of the fullerene molecule.

Hydroferration reaction of [60]fullerene or its derivative with [Fe(C5H5)(CO)2]2 gives regioselectively a ferrocene/hydrofullerene hybrid, which upon treatment with Bu4NOH and an alkyl halide affords the corresponding alkylated bucky ferrocene, again regioselectivity via an anion of the ferrocene.

The first hoop-shaped cyclic benzenoid compounds, [10]cyclophenacene derivatives that contain 40 pi electrons, have been synthesized in three or four steps from [60]fullerene by rationally designed chemical modification. The compounds thus synthesized are chemically stable, yellow-colored, luminescent, and EPR-silent. X-ray crystallographic analysis provided high precision structural data sets. On the basis of these results and theoretical investigations, the new cyclic benzenoid molecules were proven to be aromatic.

"Bucky ferrocenes", molecular hybrids of ferrocene and fullerene, have been synthesized in good yield on gram scale by treatment of C(60)HMe(5) or C(70)HMe(3) with [FeCp(CO)(2)](2) and their structures studied with physical methods including X-ray crystallography.