Regular arrays of C60-based molecular rotors mounted on the surface of tris(o-phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene nanocrystals

Dielectric spectroscopy has been used to determine the barriers of rotation of surface-mounted fullerenes (2.3 +/- 0.1 and 4.3 +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1)). In order to achieve this, a C-60 derivative equipped with an anchoring group designed to form a surface inclusion with the hexagonal form of tris(o-phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene (TPP) has been synthesized. Solid-state NMR analysis revealed that approximately 50% of the surface-mounted molecules have a chemical environment different from the others suggesting two distinct insertion modes. These observations correlate with results of DFT calculations.

Automated summary

Dielectric spectroscopy was employed to calculate the barriers of rotation for surface-mounted fullerenes. A C-60 derivative with an anchoring group was synthesized to form a surface inclusion with TPP. Solid-state NMR analysis revealed different chemical environments for approximately 50% of the surface-mounted molecules, indicating two distinct insertion modes.