Synthesis, photochemistry and photophysics of stilbene-derivatized fullerenes.

The photochemistry and photophysics of two sets of stilbene-derivatized fullerene isomers, in which stilbene is covalently linked to C60, are described. Synthesis and characterization of cis- and trans-stilbene substituted methanofullerenes 1 and 2, and cis- and trans-stilbene substituted fulleropyrrolidines 7 and 8 are described. While UV irradiation of the stilbene-substituted ketal precursors to 1 and 2 lacking the fullerene moiety afforded a photostationary state with 90:10 cis:trans ratio, similar to that of other model stilbene systems, direct and fluorenone-sensitized irradiation of 1 and 2 led to complete conversion to the trans isomer 2, as determined by HPLC analysis.