| The discovery of C60, the most symmetrical of the fullerene molecules, has initiated a rush of experiments and resulted in a large body of work. The ability to insert a metal into the cavity of C60 would equal or surpass the discovery of C60 itself. Although some metallofullerenes have been prepared by the graphite evaporation methodology, pure material is presently obtained in submilligram quantities. The most desirable metallofullerenes are those with C60, because it has high symmetry that confers its special properties when compared to other empty fullerenes. It is likely that a synthetic organic approach to metal insertion into C60 should provide greater selectivity and produce larger quantities than the graphite evaporation method currently employed.; Chapter 1 contains a general review on endohedral fullerenes and proposes a synthetic organic approach to create a substantial orifice on the surface of a fullerene derivative that will allow atom insertion, metal or otherwise. This strategy involves the triple addition of tethered reactive moieties to a single six-membered ring of C60. In the second chapter, the formation of the largest opening made on a fullerene to date is discussed. The successful insertion of helium and hydrogen into the open structure will be described. Chapter 3 details a comprehensive study towards wider openings on C60 . Attempts to saturate a six-membered ring of C60 using tethered butadienes, alcohols and isobenzofurans will be presented. |
