SYNTHESIS OF A FULLERENE DERIVATIVE FOR THE INHIBITION OF HIV ENZYMES

A diamido diacid diphenyl fulleroid derivative (2c) was designed speci fically to inhibit an HIV enzyme. The detailed synthesis and mass spec trometric analysis of the water-soluble, biologically active methanofu llerene are described. The compound was prepared in three steps from C 60 via a suitably substituted diphenyldiazomethane. High-resolution ma ss spectrometric analysis was possible only under mild matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry condi tions. Direct infrared or ultraviolet laser desorption resulted exclus ively in observation of C60 ions, in either positive or negative mode.