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Science 14 January 2005:
Vol. 307. no. 5707, pp. 238 - 240
DOI: 10.1126/science.1106185
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Reports

Encapsulation of Molecular Hydrogen in Fullerene C60 by Organic Synthesis

Koichi Komatsu,* Michihisa Murata, Yasujiro Murata

In spite of their importance in fundamental and applied studies, the preparation of endohedral fullerenes has relied on difficult-to-control physical methods. We report a four-step organic reaction that completely closes a 13-membered ring orifice of an open-cage fullerene. This process can be used to synthesize a fullerene C60 encapsulating molecular hydrogen, which can be isolated as a pure product. This molecular surgical method should make possible the preparation of a series of C60 fullerenes, encapsulating either small atoms or molecules, that are not accessible by conventional physical methods.

Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: komatsu{at}scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)