Fullerene chemistry

Fullerene chemistry is a field of organic chemistry devoted to the chemical properties of fullerenes.^[1]^[2]^[3] Research in this field is driven by the need to functionalize fullerenes and tune their properties. For example, fullerene is notoriously insoluble and adding a suitable group can enhance solubility.^[1] By adding a polymerizable group, a fullerene polymer can be obtained. Functionalized fullerenes are divided into two classes: exohedral fullerenes with substituents outside the cage and endohedral fullerenes with trapped molecules inside the cage.

This article covers the chemistry of these so-called "buckyballs," while the chemistry of carbon nanotubes is covered in carbon nanotube chemistry.

^ ^a ^b Hirsch, A.; Bellavia-Lund, C., eds. (1993). Fullerenes and Related Structures (Topics in Current Chemistry). Berlin: Springer. ISBN 3-540-64939-5.
^ Diederich, F. N. (1997). "Covalent fullerene chemistry". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 69 (3): 395–400. doi:10.1351/pac199769030395.
^ Prato, M. (1997). "[60]Fullerene chemistry for materials science applications" (PDF). Journal of Materials Chemistry. 7 (7): 1097–1109. doi:10.1039/a700080d.

[full-1] Hirsch, A.; Bellavia-Lund, C., eds. (1993). Fullerenes and Related Structures (Topics in Current Chemistry). Berlin: Springer. ISBN 3-540-64939-5.

[2] Diederich, F. N. (1997). "Covalent fullerene chemistry". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 69 (3): 395–400. doi:10.1351/pac199769030395.

[3] Prato, M. (1997). "[60]Fullerene chemistry for materials science applications" (PDF). Journal of Materials Chemistry. 7 (7): 1097–1109. doi:10.1039/a700080d.

[1]

[2]

[3]