Abstract
Exohedral derivatization of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) has been exploited as a useful method for characterizing the structural and chemical properties of EMFs, and for functionalizing them for potential applications. The introduction of heteroatoms, such as electropositive silicon atoms, to fullerene cages is a novel functionalization method that remarkably affects the electronic characteristics of fullerenes. This review comprehensively describes the results of the reactions of monometallofullerene, dimetallofullerene, and trimetallic nitride template EMFs with disilirane, silirane, silylene, and digermirane, which afforded the corresponding silylated and germylated fullerenes. Several examples emphasize that exohedral functionalization regulates the dynamic behaviors of the encapsulated metal atoms and clusters in the fullerene cages. The electronic effects of silyl and germyl groups are represented by comparing the redox properties of silylated and germylated EMFs with those of other EMFs derivatized with carbon-atom-based functional groups.
Highlights
Endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) are attracting great interest because of their unique structures and properties [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]
This review provided an overview of our studies of the synthesis and characterization of silylated and germylated derivatives of EMFs using active silicon compounds and germanium compounds
Disilirane 1 has been used as a versatile substrate that is both photochemically and thermally reactive
Summary
Endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) are attracting great interest because of their unique structures and properties [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. Derivatization that exploits the heteroatom properties is expected to contribute to contribute to the development of EMFs as functional materials. The development of EMFs as functional materials In this context, derivatization of fullerenes using silicon and germanium atoms is an attractive. The combination of fullerenes and silicon and germanium compounds provide a basis for the production of novel functional materials for electronic device, as mentioned provide a basis for the production of novel functional materials for electronic device, as mentioned in the section on potential applications. Derivatization of EMFs using reactive compounds containing heavier group 14 elements, such as silylene (silicon analog of carbene), disilirane (disilacyclopropane), group 14 elements, such as silylene (silicon analog of carbene), disilirane (disilacyclopropane), silirane silirane (silacyclopropane), and digermirane (digermacyclopropane) will be outlined. Ce2 @D3h -C78 , Sc3 N@Ih -C80 , and Lu3 N@Ih -C80 (Figure 1)
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