Embracing C60 with Multiarmed Geodesic Partners

1,3,5,7,9-Pentakis(4-methoxyphenylthio)corannulene (3), 1,3,5,7,9-pentakis(2-naphthylthio)corannulene (4), and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenylthio)corannulene (5b) have been synthesized by chlorination of corannulene with ICl in CH2Cl2 at 25 °C and subsequent nucleophilic aromatic substitution with the appropriate sodium thiophenolate in DMEU at 25 °C. 1H NMR titration studies demonstrate that these novel bowl-shaped hosts form 1:1 complexes with C60 in toluene-d 8 solution with association constants of 454, 368, and 280 M-1, respectively.