Dramatically Enhanced Reactivity of Fullerenes and Tetrazine towards the Inverse-Electron-Demand Diels-Alder Reaction inside a Porous Porphyrinic Cage

Abstract

Inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction (IEDDA) between fullerenes and 1,2,4,5-tetrazine generally requires harsh conditions and long reaction times due to their strong electron-accepting nature. Herein, we report a dramatic enhancement in the reactivity of the fullerenes (C-60/C-70)-tetrazine reaction inside a porous Zn-porphyrinic cage (Zn-PB) under sustainable conditions by installing a tetrazine-based axle (LA) via metal-ligand coordination bond, which modulates the cavity size to facilitate the encapsulation of fullerenes. Upon encapsulation, the close proximity of fullerenes and the tetrazine group of LA dramatically increase their reactivity towards the IEDDA reaction to form fullerene-tetrazine adducts. Furthermore, the C-60-tetrazine adduct is rearranged upon hydration to a bent-shaped C-60-pyrazoline adduct that can be released from the Zn-PB cavity in the presence of excess LA, thus catalyzing the formation of C-60-pyrazoline adduct inside Zn-PB without product inhibition.