Research Highlights

We have separated Sc₃N@D_5h-C₈₀ from Sc₃N@C₆₈ based on their chemical reactivity differences using the p-toluenesulfonyl tosyl hydrazone of phenyl butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). We also performed for the first time the synthesis and characterization of five PCBM methano-derivatives of Sc₃N@D₅h-C₈₀ (including the X-ray diffraction structure of one of the isomers) and two PCBM methano-derivatives of Sc₃N@C₆₈.

We also synthesized four easily isolable regio and stereoselective pure bis-adducts of C₆₀ and C₇₀ and a new C₇₀ dumbbell using two different malonate tethered moieties.

We currently have two undergraduate PREM research students, Andrea Hernandez, Mauro Ruiz, and one PhD Candidate, Danisha Rivera-Nazario. There are 7 PREM affiliates, both graduate and undergraduate, that work with Dr. Luis Echegoyen; Maira R. Cerón, Robert Cotta, Daniel Najera, David Buck, Edison Castro, Paulina Quiñonez and Miguel Guerrero-Ayala.

Overall, the UTEP PREM program has enrolled 59 participants thus far, 57 of whom are members of an URM group and/or female.