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Research project

Molecular Endofullerenes

Project overview

This project consists of the synthesis and multidisciplinary investigation of small molecules trapped inside fullerene cages. The host molecules in these unique molecular systems behave as quantum rotors and exhibit phenomena such as spin isomerism, spin isomer conversion, quantised molecular motion, and quantum-rotor induced hyperpolarization.

Staff

Lead researcher

Professor Malcolm Levitt

Professor of Chemistry

Research interests

  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Endofullerenes
Other researchers

Professor Richard Whitby

Professor of Chemistry

Research interests

  • Synthesis, properties and application of atomic and molecular endofullerenes.
  • The use of flow chemistry for the rapid acquisition of mechanistic and process information.
  • The synthesis of polyaromatic molecules for optoelectronic applications.

Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Magnetic Resonance

Our main focus is finding ways to extend the timescale over which magnetic resonance can be made.

Organic Chemistry, Synthesis, Catalysis

We develop environmentally sustainable approaches to chemical manufacture that minimise chemical waste, improve product velocity and reduce the need to isolate intermediates.

Research outputs

An optimised scalable synthesis of H2O@C60and a new synthesis of H2@C60
A. Krachmalnicoff,
M. Levitt,
& R. Whitby
, 2014 , ChemComm
DOI: 10.1039/C4CC06198E
Type: article
Symmetry-breaking in the endofullerene H2O@C60revealed in the quantum dynamics of ortho and para-water: a neutron scattering investigation
Kelvin S.K. Goh,
Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz,
Mark R. Johnson,
Stéphane Rols,
Jacques Ollivier,
Mark S. Denning,
Salvatore Mamone,
Malcolm H. Levitt,
Xuegong Lei,
Yongjun Li,
Nicholas J. Turro,
Yasujiro Murata,
& Anthony J. Horsewill
, 2014 , Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics , 16 (39) , 21330--21339
DOI: 10.1039/C4CP03272A
Type: article
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