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Encapsulation of Molecular Hydrogen in Fullerene C 60 by Organic Synthesis

2005; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 307; Issue: 5707 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1106185

1095-9203

Kôichi Komatsu, Michihisa Murata, Yasujiro Murata,

Graphene research and applications

In spite of their importance in fundamental and applied studies, the preparation of endohedral fullerenes has relied on difficult-to-control physical methods. We report a four-step organic reaction that completely closes a 13-membered ring orifice of an open-cage fullerene. This process can be used to synthesize a fullerene C60 encapsulating molecular hydrogen, which can be isolated as a pure product. This molecular surgical method should make possible the preparation of a series of C60 fullerenes, encapsulating either small atoms or molecules, that are not accessible by conventional physical methods.