MECHANOCHEMISTRY - A NOVEL-APPROACH TO THE SYNTHESIS OF FULLERENE COMPOUNDS - WATER-SOLUBLE BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE-GAMMA-CYCLODEXTRIN INCLUSION COMPLEXES VIA A SOLID-SOLID REACTION

It has been shown that the solid-solid mechanochemical reaction betwee n crystalline buckminsterfullerene and gamma cyclodextrin at room temp erature yields an inclusion complex of more intact nature than the pro cedure previously suggested by Swedish researchers. Experimental evide nce suggests that the reaction proceeds via the mechanochemical amorph ization of the reactants and dissolution of C-60 in the amorphous gamm a-CD phase. Preliminary investigations show that mechanochemistry offe rs a novel approach to the synthesis of many fullerene compounds and d erivatives.