Molecular tweezers for fullerenes

Pérez, Emilio M.; Martín, Nazario

doi:10.1351/PAC-CON-09-09-27

Pure Appl. Chem., 2010, Vol. 82, No. 3, pp. 523-533

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/PAC-CON-09-09-27

Published online 2010-02-14

Molecular tweezers for fullerenes

Emilio M. Pérez and Nazario Martín*

Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain and IMDEA-nanociencia, 28049 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: The search for molecular receptors capable of forming stable associates with fullerenes is a very active field of research in fullerene chemistry, with the purification from fullerite and the self-assembly of nanoscale electronic devices as driving forces. The construction of bivalent, tweezer-like receptors featuring two recognizing units connected through a spacer is one of the most successful design strategies employed in this field. Here, we present an overview of the most significant examples of these “molecular tweezers” for fullerenes.