CuBr/PMDETA‐Mediated Reactions of [60]Fullerene with Active Halides: Preparation of Methano[60]Fullerene Derivatives

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of methano[60]fullerene derivatives linked with a single electron‐withdrawing group has been developed through one‐step reaction of [60]fullerene with active halides mediated by CuBr/pentamethyldiethylenetriamine. Many functional groups including esters, ketones, amides, and sulfonyl groups could be easily introduced onto the fullerene skeleton by using this methodology. A plausible reaction mechanism, but not the atom transfer radical process, was proposed for the formation of the methano[60]fullerene derivatives.