Synthesis of a fullerene derivative for the inhibition of HIV enzymes

A diamido diacid diphenyl fulleroid derivative 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 C[sub 60] via a suitably 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 C[sub 60] ions, in either positive or negative mode. 13 refs., 3 figs.