Synthesis of long-sought C66 with exohedral stabilization.

ABSTRACT

Previously reported fused-pentagon fullerenes stabilized by exohedral derivatization do not share the same cage with those stabilized by endohedral encapsulation. Herein we report the crystallographic identification of (#4348)C66Cl10, which has the same cage as that of previously reported Sc2@C66. According to the geometrical data of (#4348)C66Cl10, both strain relief (at the fused pentagons) and local aromaticity (on the remaining sp(2)-hybrided carbon framework) contribute to the exohedral stabilization of this long-sought 66 carbon atom cage.