Synthesis of [60]fullerene-fused tetrahydronaphthalene and indane derivatives via a pathway switched by aluminum chloride.

The addition of aluminum chloride to the manganese acetate-mediated radical reaction of [60]fullerene with 2-arylmalonates, 2-benzylmalonates, and 2-arylcyanoacetates can switch the reaction pathway and affords a variety of structurally novel and scarce [60]fullerene-fused tetrahydronaphthalene and indane derivatives. These products are formed probably through radical addition, followed by Friedel-Crafts-type annulation.