Fullerodendrons: synthesis, electrochemistry and reduction in the electrospray source for mass spectrometry analysis

The synthesis of fullerene-functionalized dendritic branches (fullerodendrons) containing C60 spheres at each branching unit has been carried out by a convergent approach using successive esterification and deprotection steps. The tert-butyl protected fullerodendrons containing one, three or seven methanofullerene subunits can be characterized by ESMS owing to their reduction in the electrospray source. The MS analysis of the reduced species also confirmed that all the methanofullerene subunits in the fullerodendrons of highest generation behave as independent redox centers, as shown by their electrochemical behavior.