Synthesis of AC60-Para-Xylylene Copolymer

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe preparation and purification of macroscopic quantities of buckminsterfullerenes [1] or buckyballs has ignited an explosion of research into their physical and chemical properties, and a variety of strategies for preparing new fullerene-based materials. Free radical synthesis is an appealing approach for forming polymeric fullerene materials. We report a polymeric fullerene material prepared by reacting pure C60 with xylylene from the thermolysis of paracyclophane. Addition of xylylene to a purple solution of C60 in toluene solution at -78 °C resulted in an olive-green solution from which an insoluble brown powder precipitated upon warming to room temperature. Analyses of the powder by solid state 13C MAS NMR, IR, and thermal gravimetric analysis are consistent with C60-xylylene copolymer.