Purification and Modification of Fullerene C60 in the Undergraduate Laboratory

Abstract

We describe an experiment for the undergraduate chemistry laboratory encompassing extraction and column purification of buckminsterfullerene C60 from fullerene-rich soot followed by a one-pot 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide to C60. The fullerene N-methyl pyrrolidine product is then purified by silica gel chromatography. Characterization of the starting material and product can be performed by UV–vis, MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. This laboratory utilizes fundamental experimental techniques while exposing students to developing opportunities in fullerene research. The experimental procedures are straightforward and require materials of relatively low cost.