Base-iodine-promoted metal-catalyst-free reactions of [60]fullerene with β-keto esters for the selective formation of [60]fullerene derivatives.

In this study, methanofullerenes and 2',3'-dihydrofuran C derivatives were selectively synthesized in high yields the reactions of C with β-keto esters under mild conditions by controlling the addition sequence and molar ratio of iodine and base. The structures of the products were determined by spectroscopic characterization. Moreover, a possible reaction mechanism for the selective formation of fullerene derivatives was proposed.