Preparation of C60-based active esters and coupling of C60 moiety to amines or alcohols

We report the syntheses of C60-based active esters and the coupling of their C60 moiety to various amines or alcohols. Methano[60]fullerene carboxylic acid was activated by esterification with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) or pentafluorophenol (PFP) and the active esters were isolated. Reactions of the active esters with amines or alcohols proceeded easily to give a variety of compounds having the C60 moiety.