Purification of C60 and C70 by selective complexation with calixarenes

摘要: MOLECULAR complexation of fullerenes in host–guest complexes has the potential to afford efficient large-scale purification fullerenes1. This method would avoid losses inherent chromatographic techniques currently use, which arise from irreversible absorption on stationary phase2. Several host-guest interactions have been reported for C60, including formation with 1,4-hydroquinone3,4, azacrown compounds5, certain water-soluble macrocycles such as γ-cyclodextrin6–8, and between C60 an iridium phosphine pendant groups attached a phosphorus atom form cradle adjacent molecule9. Other relevant studies are inclusion into microporous aluminophosphate10 charge-transfer complex thiafulvalene11. Here we show that both C70 will discrete calixarenes, bowl-shaped hydrophobic cavities. Complexation p-Bu'-calix[8]arene mixture toluene extract 'crude' fullerene soot, followed by series recrystallizations, affords >99.5% pure C6. Our approach could lead substantial reduction cost purifying C70.