Unzipping nanotubes, nanosheets, buckyballs, or annulenes is driven by the practical access to novel structural transformations and gaining fundamental understanding, that could lead to materials with unique optical and electronic profiles. Promotion of selective C=C bond cleavage in graphitic materials is challenging and only a few reports of structural changes in strained corannulene (buckybowls) derivatives has been reported. This presentation will feature a remarkable one-step C=C bond cleavage that led to “unzipping” of the buckybowl, potentially providing access to carbon-rich structures with previously inaccessible topologies. A combination of optical spectroscopy, crystallographic analysis, and theoretical modelling allowed for estimation of electron coupling between the “unzipped” corannulene and a well-known strong electron acceptor, 7,7,8,8-tetraycyanoquinodimethane. Such ring opening is unprecedented in the literature for pristine corannulene and portends avenues to prepare barely accessible structures by “unlocking” the corannulene core and application of the latter for molecular electronic development.

“Broken-hearted” corannulene bowl: Strain energy release via an electron shuttle reaction

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.