Sulfur-containing dihydro-pyrrolo [60]fullerene derivatives via 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of glycine imine esters to C60

C60 reacts thermally with 1,3-dipoles, formed in situ, from sulfide-bearing imines of glycine esters, and affords dihydro-pyrrolo [60]fullerene derivatives containing a vinylic sulfide group, which were isolated in good yields, and characterized with 1H and 13C NMR, FTIR, UV–vis spectroscopies, and with FAB, ESI mass spectrometries. The new derivatives contain a sulfide, an imine, and an ester functionality for further chemical transformations. Mechanistic considerations with regard to the loss of a mercaptan molecule in the course of the cycloaddition are deployed.