Lead(IV) acetate: an efficient reagent for the synthesis of pyrrolidinofullerenes via oxidative coupling of C60 with amino acids esters

A family of pyrrolidinofullerenes bearing ester group functionalities was easily prepared starting from C₆₀, Pb(OAc)₄ and methyl esters of nitrilotriacetic, ethylenediaminetetraacetic and hexamethylenediaminetetraacetic acids; the obtained fullerene derivatives are considered as precursors for the preparation of corresponding water-soluble polycarboxylic acids that may serve as efficient antiviral agents and neuroprotectors in vivo.