Scalable Flow Synthesis of [6,6]-Phenyl-C61-butyric Acid Methyl Ester (PCBM) using a Flow Photoreactor with a Sodium Lamp

Abstract

An efficient flow system was constructed for the synthesis of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM); the process involved flow [2+1] addition of C60 and subsequent flow photoisomerization of the resulting fulleroid to PCBM by using a flow photoreactor in combination with an Na lamp. With the present flow system, a scalable synthesis of PCBM (0.79 g/3.3 h) was achieved by continuous operation for 3.3 h.