Reactivity and regioselectivity in Diels–Alder reactions of anion encapsulated fullerenes

Abstract

Encapsulation and surface chemical modification are methodologies to enhance the properties of fullerenes for various applications. Herein, density functional theory calculations are performed to study the Diels–Alder (DA) reactivity of anion encapsulated C₆₀, including [X@C₆₀]⁻ (X = F, Cl, Br, or I), [S@C₆₀]²⁻, and [N@C₆₀]³⁻. Computational results reveal that encapsulated Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, or S²⁻ anions are located close to the center of the C₆₀ molecule; however, encapsulated F⁻ is displaced from the center. Encapsulated N³⁻ bonds to the inner surface of the carbon cage, which leads to a negative charge transfer to the C₆₀. In [N@C₆₀]³⁻, C–C bonds near to the encapsulated N atom are more reactive. Our calculations reveal that encapsulated halogen or S anions decrease the DA reactivity because of the stronger closed-shell repulsion of the encapsulated anion. However, encapsulated N³⁻ increases the DA reactivity. The higher distortion energy of the halogen- or S²⁻-anion encapsulated C₆₀ leads to lower reactivity of the 6-5 bond. Opposite regioselectivity of the DA reaction with [N@C₆₀]³⁻ is attributed to distortion energy of the cyclopentadiene (CPD) moiety. The asymmetrical transition state geometry leads to a lower distortion energy of the CPD moiety.