Electrochemical Synthesis and Transformations of Substituted Methano[60]fullerenes

Abstract

61‐(Dimethoxyphosphoryl)‐61‐(methoxycarbonyl)methano[60]fullerene was produced by using the joint electrochemical reduction of fullerene C₆₀ and (dimethoxyphosphoryl)methoxycarbonyldibromomethane. A few steps of reduction were detected for phosphorylated methano[60]fullerenes. When two electrons per molecule are transferred, the methano fragment is rapidly eliminated (retro‐Bingel reaction). This process involves the step‐by‐step cleavage of two C–C bonds of exo‐carbon with the fullerene shell in combination with the stepwise transfer of other two electrons and a proton to form finally the carbanion of the methano fragment and fullerene dianion.