Electron transfer in a supramolecular associate of a fullerene fragment.

Herein, we investigate the association of a fullerene fragment, hemifullerene C30H12, with an electron-donating bowl-shaped tetrathiafulvalene derivative (truxTTF). UV/Vis titrations and DFT calculations support formation of the supramolecular complex, for which an association constant of log Ka = 3.6±0.3 in CHCl3 at room temperature is calculated. Remarkably, electron transfer from truxTTF to C30H12 to form the fully charge-separated species takes place upon irradiation of the associate with light, constituting the first example in which a fullerene fragment mimics the electron-accepting behavior of fullerenes within a supramolecular complex.

Rapid, microwave-assisted perdeuteration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

A simple and convenient method for the perdeuteration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that does not require strong acid has been developed. Using commercially available reagents, the one-step procedure provides a new route to perdeuterated derivatives of both common and exotic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Microwave irradiation of the hydrocarbons in a solution of dimethylformamide-d7 containing potassium tert-butoxide affords rapid and essentially complete H/D exchange. For example, corannulene is converted to corannulene-d10 with >98% deuterium incorporation in just 1 h of microwave irradiation in a solution of t-BuOK/DMF-d7.

Routine analysis and characterization of highly insoluble polycyclic aromatic compounds by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART).

Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART), is used for the first time for the routine rapid analysis of highly insoluble polycyclic aromatic compounds. Direct analysis of such compounds as solid samples under solvent-free conditions shows that DART is a powerful analytical platform capable of providing high-throughput analysis for these complex samples, requiring no special sample pre-treatment or instrument setup.