Synthesis, properties and chemistry of Aza[60]fullerene

Abstract A general overview of the state of the art in the field of heterofullerene chemistry will be given. We will concentrate solely on aza[60]fullerene, because this is the best-known heterofullerene system up to now and the only one which is accessible to extensive chemical investigations. The two possible synthetic pathways leading to the aza[60]fullerene dimer will be reviewed and new, sturdy reaction conditions will be suggested for the usual synthesis which lead to a fairly pure material, so that an expensive and tedious purification by HPLC is superfluous in the most cases. In the sequel we will shortly summarize the physical properties of aza[60]fullerene. The main part however will be dedicated to a complete overview of the derivatisation methods of aza[60]fullerenes which are known up to now. Theoretical aspects of aza[60]fullerene derivatisation, transformations at the radical or cationic center of aza[60]fullerene and reactions at the heterofullerene core will constitute this part. Finally, we will give an outlook to future trends of heterofullerene chemistry and our first steps to the ‘chemical’ synthesis of C58N2 starting from C60.