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In this study, the functionalization of a fullerene building block in a stepwise process by means of the copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) and thiol-maleimide reactions is reported. Grafting of the fullerene platform with a variety of azido derivatives, including Bodipy, pyrene and ferrocene, was carried out first. These fullerene compounds were then reacted with thiol derivatives to yield sophisticated structures comprising photo- and/or electroactive fullerodendrimers and cysteine-functionalized fullerene assemblies. This strategy, which combines the CuAAC and thiol-maleimide processes, could become more widely adopted in the field of fullerene chemistry.

In this study, the synthesis of an orthogonally clickable fullerene building block mono-adduct bearing on one side an alkyne unit and a maleimide moiety on the other side is presented. This derivative has been involved in CuAAC and thiol–maleimide click reactions using stepwise or one-pot processes with benzyl azide and 1-octanethiol. The one-pot process involving the CuAAC reaction followed by the thiol–maleimide conjugation gives the highest yield. This new platform could pave the way for the synthesis of a wide range of fullerene derivatives exploiting this set of orthogonal reactions.