Synthesis of a C48H12 Bowl: Cap for a [0,9] Zigzag Nanotube

James Dombrowski
Boston College

Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes have excited those in the scientific community because of their interesting electronic characteristics. Currently, both nanotubes and fullerenes are produced by the vaporization of graphite at 3000oC. While this process is effective, it is incapable of producing a specific product. In order to be of value, nanotubes and fullerenes of desired sizes and lengths must be able to be produced in a precise manner. In our laboratory, we are attempting to synthesize nanotubes by using "Bucky Bowls" as templates for the tube and then extending the tube using rational synthetic methods.

My project is to synthesize a C48H12 bowl: a template for a [0,9] carbon nanotube. A C30H12 bowl has already been synthesized in our lab using 1-tetralone as the starting material. A key step in this synthesis is the flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) of tribromobenzonaphthochrysene. Our goal is then to extend the bowl to 48 carbons by symmetric coupling of three dichlorophenyl groups to the bowl. Finally, the using a metal catalyzed coupling reaction or FVP, the bowl would be closed. Once the C48H12 bowl is synthesized, we will investigate methods to continue the extension of the bowl into a carbon nanotube.