Abstract
We investigated the complexation of a singly bonded fullerene dimer [C60(CH2SiMe2OiPr)]2 and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in order to develop facile separation of a fullerene derivative from the mixture of fullerene and its derivatives without the use of time consuming and expensive chromatographic techniques. Addition of DBU to a 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (TMB) solution of C60 and [C60(CH2SiMe2OiPr)]2 afforded complexation only with [C60(CH2SiMe2OiPr)]2, leading to precipitation of the [C60(CH2SiMe2OiPr)]2-DBU complex. Decomplexation with 1,2-dichlorobenzene gave [C60(CH2SiMe2OiPr)]2 in 56% recovery. In addition, the [C60(CH2SiMe2OiPr)]2-DBU complex could be used for the synthesis of dihydromethano[60]fullerene C61H2.