Cocrystallization of C 60 or C 70 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 C-60 or C-70 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 M-II(OEP), where OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin and M is generally Ni or Co. The C-60 structure features an ordered cage with a disordered solvent position, while the C-70 structure exhibits two orientations of the cage, all other components being ordered.