METHYL 1,2-DIHYDROFULLERENECARBOXYLATE

We report the preparation of the title compound, the first fullereneca rboxylic acid derivative, by hydrolysis of dimethoxymethanofullerene. The latter was prepared from dimethoxycarbene and C-60. The title este r is quite unreactive; conventional saponification methods, including sulfuric acid, trimethylsilyl iodide, and boron tribromide, failed to transform the ester to acid. A special phase-transfer-catalysis proced ure effected hydrolysis but the only characterizable product was buckm insterfullerene (C-60).