PROGRESS IN FULLERENE CHEMISTRY - EXOHEDRAL FUNCTIONALIZATION OF FIRST AND 2ND-GENERATION AND A NEW APPROACH TO AZA-HETEROFULLERENES

The methodology for exohedral functionalization of fullerenes and thei r monosubstituted derivatives is discussed (functionalization of first and second generation). Two examples ol easily accessible synthetic b uilding blocks are presented, i.e. the cyclohexadione fused [60]fuller ene and the aziridino-[60]fullerene. Both are precursors for a variety of higher functionalized fullerene derivatives with interesting prope rties. In addition, a new approach to azafullerenes in the gas phase i s presented starting from an activated monofunctionalized [60]fulleren e. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.