A Computational Study of the Intermolecular [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Acetylene and C60 Catalyzed by Wilkinson's Catalyst

Abstract

The functionalization of fullerenes helps to modulate their electronic and physicochemical properties, generating fullerene derivatives with promising features for practical applications. Herein, DFT is used to explore the attachment of a cyclohexadiene ring to C60 through a rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular [2+2+2] cycloaddition of C60 and acetylene. All potential reaction paths are analyzed and it can be concluded that the [2+2+2] cycloaddition of C60 and two acetylene molecules catalyzed by [RhCl(PPh3)3], yielding a cyclohexadiene ring fused to a [6,6] bond of C60, is energetically feasible