Chapter 11 : Arenes and Aromaticity

In 1984 a new form of carbon was discovered in which the C atoms existed as spherical clusters. C₆₀ is the most well known of these structures and two JSMOL represtantations are shown below.   It was formally named "buckminsterfullerene" but is more commonly referred to as "buckyball" because of its similarity to the architectural work of Buckminster Fuller who designed geodesic domes.

In these structures, each C is sp² hybridised and connected to 3 other C atoms in a network of C₅ and C₆ rings.  Despite the fact that the C6 ring are structurally similar to benzene, buckyball does not behave as an aromatic compound as it tends to undergo addition reactions.  This is because the rings are non-planar with some angle strain that is relieved by making the C atoms sp³ hybridised.

These and related structures are being studied for a wide range of potential uses such as superconductors and in fuel cells.

Question What other structures of elemental carbon are there ? ANSWER

© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry