Highly Efficient Fluorine‐Promoted Intramolecular Condensation of Benzo[c]phenanthrene: A New Prospective on Direct Fullerene Synthesis

Abstract Various functional groups have been tested as alternative promoters of the intramolecular condensation of benzo[ c ]phenanthrene under flash vacuum pyrolysis conditions. Methyl and fluorine functionalization were found to be promising approaches. Unexpectedly high selectivity was observed in the cyclization of fluorinated benzo[ c ]phenanthrenes. The mechanism for the condensation reaction and the advantages of fluorine as a promoter for the rational synthesis of fullerenes are discussed.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)