Regioselective Diels–Alder reaction to open-cage ketolactam derivatives of C₆₀

Open-cage ketolactam fullerenes reacted with dienes on the rim of the orifice both regio- and stereoselectively. Unequivocal evidence for the structure of the Diels–Alder adduct was provided by 2D INADEQUATE ¹³C NMR studies on ¹³C enriched material, as well as via DFT-GIAO calculations. The theoretical calculations successfully model the regioselective and the endo stereoselective reaction, predicting molecular orbital control along with a repulsive steric interaction between the substituents on the nitrogen atom and those on the diene.