Rational design and development of short-process synthesis of novel spherical nanocarbons

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19067
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 35:Polymers, organic materials, and related fields
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: ARATANI Naoki 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, 先端科学技術研究科, 准教授 (60372562)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 有機合成 / ナノカーボン / 曲面π共役系 / ホストゲスト錯体 / キロプティカル特性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The synthesis of cage-like molecules consisting of covalent bonds, which are stronger than supramolecular interactions, was challenged. By using a bowl-shaped molecule with a wide π-conjugated system as a key starting material to form a face-to-face dimer, spherical nanocarbons were constructed in a bottom-up manner. The cage-like molecule was named c-cage. The c-cage was obtained as an approximately 1:1 mixture of racemic and meso forms depending on the position of the modification. In this study, we have so far established a synthetic method for the cage, established a separation method between the racemic and meso forms, determined the structure by single crystal X-ray structure analysis, carried out optical resolution of the racemic form, investigated the molecules that can be encapsulated, explored the physical properties that depend on the encapsulated molecules and measured their chiroptical properties.

Free Research Field

有機合成

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ナノカーボン研究分野の隆盛・重要性は、グラフェンのノーベル賞 (2010年)、新学術領域研究「π造形」「高密度共役」など多くのプロジェクトによって実証されているが、本研究課題『新規球状ナノカーボンの合理的設計と短工程合成法の開発』では、ナノカーボンの新たな物質群として、外周部も内部空間も合理的にデザイン可能な球状ナノカーボンの創成により、これまで有機分子デバイスで利用されているフラーレン誘導体が本目的分子に置き換わる、フラーレン化学の革命的な一歩となる可能性がある。