Cocrystallization of C60 or C70 with the Bowl-Shaped Hydrocarbon Hexakis[(E)-3,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl]benzene to Form Chains of Clamshell Assemblies

The bowl-shaped hydrocarbon hexakis[(E)-3,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl]benzene (HB) has been cocrystallized with either C60 or C70 to form clamshell-like assemblies with the fullerenes residing within the concave surfaces of two HB molecules. The structures of these two crystals have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The HB molecules exhibit back-to-back stacking and close contacts in both cocrystals. This trait is remarkably similar to the packing seen in cases in which fullerenes cocrystallize with MII(OEP), where OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin and M is generally Ni or Co. The C60 structure features an ordered cage with a disordered solvent position, while the C70 structure exhibits two orientations of the cage, all other components being ordered.