C-60 molecule exhibited high reactivity towards the addition reaction
of nitrogen dioxide radicals (. NO2), which were generated by reaction
of sodium nitrite with cone. HNO3. This chemical functionalization of
C-60 resulted in polynitro fullerenes, C-60(NO2)(n). Hydrolysis of po
lynitro fullerenes in aqueous NaOH gave the corresponding polyhydroxyl
ated fullerene derivatives (fullerenols) in moderate overall yields. R
esults from mass spectra (FAB, negative ion) of fullerenols indicated
their structure as C-60 derivatives with at least 16 hydroxy groups. (
C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd