Thermodynamically stable [4 + 2] cycloadducts of lanthanum-encapsulated endohedral metallofullerenes

The [4 + 2] cycloaddition of o-quinodimethanes, generated in situ from the sultine 4,5-benzo-3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxathiin 2-oxide and its derivative, to La metal-encapsulated fullerenes, La2@C80 or La@C82, afforded the novel derivatives of endohedral metallofullerenes (3a,b, 4a,b and 5b). Molecular structures of the resulting compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods such as MALDI-TOF mass, optical absorption, and NMR spectroscopy. The [4 + 2] adducts of La2@C80 (3a,b, and 4a,b) and La@C82 (5b), respectively, retain diamagnetic and paramagnetic properties, as confirmed by EPR spectroscopy. Dynamic NMR measurements of 4a at various temperatures demonstrated the boat-to-boat inversions of the addend. In addition, 5b revealed remarkable thermal stability in comparison with the reported [4 + 2] cycloadduct of pentamethylcyclopentadiene and La@C82 (6). These findings demonstrate the utility of sultines to afford thermodynamically stable endohedral metallofullerene derivatives for the use in material science.