SYNTHESIS OF A FULLERENE DERIVATIVE FOR THE INHIBITION OF HIV ENZYMES

A diamido diacid diphenyl fulleroid derivative (2c) was designed specifically to inhibit an HIV enzyme. The detailed synthesis and mass spectrometric analysis of the water-soluble, biologically active methanofullerene are described. The compound was prepared in three steps from C60 via a suitably substituted diphenyldiazomethane. High-resolution mass spectrometric analysis was possible only under mild matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry conditions. Direct infrared or ultraviolet laser desorption resulted exclusively in observation of C60 ions, in either positive or negative mode.