A corannulene-based metallobox for the encapsulation of fullerenes.

A corannulene-bis-N-imidazolium salt was used for the synthesis of two corannulene-bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes of dirhodium(i) complexes of formula (corannulene-di-NHC)[RhCl(COD)] and (corannulene-di-NHC)[RhCl(CO)]. Both complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, and the electron-donating properties of the corannulene-di-NHC ligand were studied by means of infrared spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The complex (corannulene-di-NHC)[RhCl(COD)] was used for the encapsulation of fullerenes C and C, generating host-guest complexes with 2 : 1 stoichiometry, as evidenced by H NMR and ITC titrations.