FULLERENE FRAGMENTS - SYNTHESIS AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OF ,7,10,11,12-OCTAMETHYLINDENO[1,2,3-CD]FLUORANTHENE

The title C30H28 hydrocarbon, a potential precursor for the synthesis of buckybowls and carbon cages, is synthesized from 2,3,6,7-tetramethy lnaphthalene in eight steps. X-ray crystal structure determination sho ws a significant distortion of its molecular framework due to steric h indrance of the attached methyl groups. The twisted conformation, pres ent in the solid state, is also predicted to be preferred in the gas p hase according to semiempirical AM1 calculations. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.