We report here the structural determination of the Sc3C82 molecule by 13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. From the present study, it is obvious that the structure of Sc3C82 is not Sc3@C82 but Sc3C2@C80.

We show here that La@C72 has a non-IPR cage, unique electronic properties, and high reactivity by the spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis and the theoretical study. The isolation of La@C72 as a stable derivative might constitute an important stepping-stone on the way to isolation of these unknown metallofullerenes and open new material science of metallofullerenes.

The photochemical reaction of La@C82 with 2-adamantane-2,3-[3H]-diazirine affords adduct 2, La@C82(Ad), in a quantitative and highly selective manner. The structure of compound 2 is confirmed by ESR, MS, and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopies, and the first X-ray crystallographic characterization of an endohedral monometallofullerene derivative is reported.

The first isolation of missing metallofullerene, La@C74, as a derivative is reported. The structural determination has been performed by spectroscopic and, finally, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and the properties of La@C74 are discussed on the basis of the theoretical study.

The exohedrally functionalized derivative of endohedral metallofullerene, Ce2@C80(Mes2SiCH2SiMes2), was successfully synthesized and fully characterized. X-ray crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic analyses reveal that the free random motion of two metal atoms in Ce2@C80 is controlled inside the cage by exohedral chemical functionalization.

The photochemical reaction of M2@C80 (M = La and Ce) with 2-adamantane-2,3'-[3H]-diazirine (1) affords the corresponding adducts by carbene addition. The adducts were characterized by spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray structure analyses. Crystallographic data for the adduct La2@C80(Ad) (2, Ad = adamantylidene) reveal that the two La atoms are collinear with the spiro carbon of the 6,6-open adduct. It is noteworthy that the La-La distance is highly elongated by the addition of carbene. Paramagnetic 13C NMR spectral analysis of the adduct Ce2@C80(Ad) (3) indicates that the two Ce atoms are also collinear with the spiro carbon at room temperature in solution. The unique metal positions were confirmed by density functional calculations.

A novel Bingel monoadduct of La@C82 (mono-A) has been synthesized by the reaction with diethyl bromomalonate in the presence of DBU (Bingel-Hirsch reaction). Its structure has been fully determined by NMR spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The most distinct feature of mono-A is the single bond moiety between the functional group and fullerene cage, which is very different from the cyclopropane moiety in a conventional Bingel adduct of empty fullerenes. Further spectroscopic characterizations and calculations revealed the closed-shell structure of mono-A. Its formation mechanism was discussed according to calculation results.

A bisadduct of La@C82 has been synthesized in a good yield by a Bingel-Hirsch reaction. Its structure has been well-defined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. A pair of enantiomers of the adduct form a dimer in the single crystal.