Synthesis of Fullerene-Fused Lactones and Fullerenyl Esters: Radical Reaction of [60]Fullerene with Carboxylic Acids Promoted by Manganese(III) Acetate and Lead(IV) Acetate

The manganese(III) acetate-mediated radical reaction of [60]fullerene with carboxylic acids in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine exclusively afforded the [60]fullerene-fused lactones. Interestingly, the lead(IV) acetate-promoted radical reaction of [60]fullerene with the same carboxylic acids selectively gave another type of fullerene products, i.e., fullerenyl esters. Possible mechanisms for the formation of fullerene products are proposed.