Current progress on the chemical functionalization and supramolecular chemistry of M@C82

Abstract

Since the first discovery of fullerenes in 1985, the insertion of one or more atoms into a hollow fullerene cage has been attempted. Furthermore, synthesis and extraction of metallofullerene, La@C_n, were reported in 1991. Recent successful isolation and purification of metallofullerenes have facilitated the investigation of their chemical properties. This mini-review presents a summary of the recent progress of chemical functionalization and supramolecular chemistry of M@C₈₂. Selective functionalization and successful structural analysis of derivatives have revealed their chemical features arising from endohedral metal doping.