Author: Wu, Jia-Yi; Tao, Xian-Yun; Zheng, Yi-Jing; Yang, Ju-Rong; Deng, Si-Rui; Ni, Shao-Fei; Zhan, Shun-Ze; Li, Dan

Source: Science China Chemistry, 2026, 69, 2385-2389.

DOI: 10.1007/s11426-025-3047-7

Abstract:

Utilizing various aromatic dicarbaldehyde linkers, (1,1 '-biphenyl)-4,4 '-dicarbaldehyde (L_B), 4,4 '-(phenylimino)dibenzaldehyde (L_N), and anthracene-9,10-dicarbaldehyde (L_A), this study achieved controlled assembly of three exohedral metallofullerenes (ExMFs) based on novel regioisomeric C₇₀@(Cu₃)₄ with eclipsed, partly eclipsed, and staggered configurations, realizing regioselective coordination at the polar zones of C₇₀ and unique inherent chirality. They characterize a wave-like sheet, a dimer of two C₇₀@(Cu₃)₄ units, and even interpenetrated metallofullerene frameworks (MFFs) featuring dia net. Their intense absorptions across the UV-Vis ranges relate to charge transfer of Cu(I) ® p* (C₇₀) and enhanced p ® p* from dicarbaldehyde ligands to the C₇₀ ball with the increase in the conjugation degree of dicarbaldehyde ligands. Our findings highlight the potential of dicarbaldehyde ligands for new cuprofullerene-based polymers, and the successful synthesis of these regioisomeric C₇₀@(Cu₃)₄ marks a significant advancement in fullerene chemistry, with implications for their applications in photofuntional materials.