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Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides
Published on: May 26, 2019
A Solid-State Intramolecular Wittig Reaction Enables Efficient Synthesis of Endofullerenes Including Ne@C60 , 3
Gabriela Hoffman1, Mark C Walkey1, John Gräsvik1,2
1Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
Abstract:
An open-cage fullerene incorporating phosphorous ylid and carbonyl group moieties on the rim of the orifice can be filled with gases (H2 , He, Ne) in the solid state, and the cage opening then contracted in situ by raising the temperature to complete an intramolecular Wittig reaction, trapping the atom or molecule inside. Known transformations complete conversion of the product fullerene to C60 containing the endohedral species. As well as providing an improved synthesis of large quantities of 4 He@C60 , H2 @C60 , and D2 @C60 , the method allows the efficient incorporation of expensive gases such as HD and 3 He, to prepare HD@C60 and 3 He@C60 . The method also enables the first synthesis of Ne@C60 by molecular surgery, and its characterization by crystallography and 13 C NMR spectroscopy.
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