Azafullerene-based donor-acceptor dyads

Abstract

A large amount of research effort focuses on the synthesis and properties of donor-acceptor systems for energy conversion schemes. In this context, fullerenes are novel energy/electron acceptors. Azafullerene C 59 N, which formally arises from the replacement of one carbon of C 60 by a nitrogen atom, is derivatized mainly by electrophilic aromatic substitution and Mannich type reactions, thus offering immediate access to diverse dyads. Herein, the aforementioned functionalization methods will be highlighted, especially with regards to the preparation of C 59 N-based donor-acceptor dyads. Particular attention will be given to the energy and charge transfer properties of the C 59 N-based dyads incorporating ferrocene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, porphyrins, phthalocyanine, corrole and gold nanoparticles.