Synthesis and self-assembly properties of fulleropyrrolidine prepared by Prato reaction

Khanh Hy Le Ho and Stéphane Campidelli

Abstract

Molecular self-assembly is considered as a promising way to control the manufacture of new materials and their integration into hybrid devices with novel properties. In this work we have synthesized a fulleropyrrolidine bearing a phenylacetylene moiety via the Prato reaction. The characterization of the fulleropyrrolidine by nuclear magnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy is reported, and its self-assembly by crystallization study has been investigated according to the used solvents. If the solvent that effectively solubilizes fullerene derivative is tetrahydrofurane, the nano-square plates with 1–3 μm in length and 50–100 nm in thickness are formed, while if the solvent is toluene, 5 μm diameter 'nano-flowers' are obtained