Separation of C₇₀ over C₆₀ and Selective Extraction and Resolution of Higher Fullerenes by Syndiotactic Helical Poly(methyl methacrylate)

Abstract

A one-handed helical polymer, syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (st-PMMA), recognizes the size and chirality of higher fullerenes through an induced-fit mechanism and can selectively extract enantiomers of the higher fullerenes, such as C(76), C(80), C(84), C(86), C(88,) C(90), C(92), C(94), and C(96). This discovery will generate a practical and valuable method for selectively extracting the elusive higher fullerenes and their enantiomers and opens the way to developing novel carbon cage materials with optical activities.