Unexpected and selective formation of an (e,e,e,e)-tetrakis-[60]fullerene derivative via electrolytic retro-cyclopropanation of a D2h-hexakis-[60]fullerene adduct

An (e,e,e,e)-tetrakis-adduct of C-60 fullerene with two pyridylpyrrolidino addends (trans-1 position relative to each other) and two (ethoxycarbonyl) methano addends (trans-1 position relative to each to other) compound 4, was obtained selectively by controlled potential electrolysis of the D-2h-hexakis-adduct 3.