Metal-free synthesis of fulleropyrrolidin-2-ols: a novel reaction of [60]fullerene with amines and 2,2-disubstituted acetaldehydes.

A series of scarce fulleropyrrolidin-2-ols were synthesized by the facile one-step reaction of [60] fullerene with inexpensive and readily accessible amines and 2,2-disubstituted acetaldehydes without the addition of valuable metal salts in moderate yields, comparable to those for most monoadducts reported previously. This strategy exhibits a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance. A plausible reaction pathway for the formation of fulleropyrrolidin-2-ols is proposed to elucidate the above reaction process.