From nano-balls to nano-bowls

Chem Sci. 2019 Jan 23;10(10):2940-2944. doi: 10.1039/c8sc05471a. eCollection 2019 Mar 14.

Abstract

Pentaphosphaferrocene [Cp*Fe(η5-P5)] in combination with Cu(i) halides is capable of a template-directed synthesis of fullerene-like spheres. Herein, we present the use of a triple decker complex as template that leads to the formation of unprecedented 'nano-bowls'. These spherical domes resemble the truncated fullerenes I h-C80 and represent a novel spherical arrangement in the chemistry of spherical molecules.