In this work, we describe the formation of supramolecular complexes between fullerene C₆₀ and a molecular nanographene endowed with both positive and negative curvatures. The presence of a corannulene moiety and the saddle shape of the molecular nanographene allows the formation of complexes with 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 stoichiometries. The association constants for the three possible supramolecular complexes are determined by ¹H NMR titration. Furthermore, the stability of the three complexes is calculated by theoretical methods that also predict the photoinduced electron transfer from the curved nanographene to the electron acceptor fullerene C₆₀. Time-resolved transient absorption measurements on the ns-time scale shows that the addition of C₆₀ to nanographene solutions and photo-exciting them at 460 nm lead to the solvent-dependent formation of new species, in particular the formation of one-electron reduced form of C₆₀ in benzonitrile is observed.

The work has been done in collaboration with the groups of Prof. Nazario Martín who synthesized the nanographene and the complexes and Prof. Dirk Guldi who performed the time-resolved transient absorption measurements. Calculations were performed in the DiMoCat group by Dr. Anton Stasyuk, Prof. Alexander Voityuk and Prof. Miquel Solà.

The paper can be read in Angew. Chem. journal through the following link:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/anie.202112834

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