A Woodward−Hoffmann Approach to the C60 Cluster Opening Leading to Homo[60]fullerenes

Weak H-bonds. Comparisons of CH···O to NH···O in proteins and PH···N to direct P···N interactions

Whereas CH···O H-bonds are usually weaker than interpeptide NH···O H-bonds, this is not necessarily the case within proteins. The nominally weaker CH···O are surprisingly strong, comparable to, and in some cases stronger than, the NH···O H-bonds in the context of the forces that hold together the adjacent strands in protein β-sheets. The peptide NH is greatly weakened as proton donor in certain conformations of the protein backbone, particularly extended structures, and forms correspondingly weaker H-bonds. The PH group is a weak proton donor, but will form PH···N H-bonds. However, there is a stronger interaction in which P can engage, in which the P atom, not the H, directly approaches the N electron donor to establish a direct P···N interaction. This approach is stabilized by the same sort of electron transfer from the N lone pair to the P-H σ* antibond that characterizes the PH···N H-bond.

Preparation of [5,6]- and [6,6]-Oxahomofullerene Derivatives and Their Interconversion by Lewis Acid Assisted Reactions of Fullerene Mixed Peroxides

[60]Fullerene mixed peroxides C60(O)(OOtBu)4 exhibit chemo- and regioselective reactions under mild conditions. The epoxy moiety is opened by ferric chloride to form vicinal hydroxy chloride C60Cl(OH)(OOtBu)4. BF3 is also effective in opening the epoxy moiety. The O-O bond of the fullerene mixed peroxide is cleaved by aluminum chloride to form both [5,6]- and [6,6]-fullerene hemiketals (oxohomo[60]fullerenes). A Hock-type rearrangement is proposed for the formation of the hemiketals, in which a fullerene C-C bond is cleaved. Lewis acids and/or visible light can initiate isomerization of the hemiketal isomers. Single-crystal X-ray analysis and theoretical calculations confirmed the results.