Preparation of water-soluble polyhydroxylated fullerenes using iron nanoparticles as catalyst

The synthesis of water-soluble polyhydroxylated fullerenes using mixtures containing fullerenes and iron particles as precursors in considered. The iron nanoparticles are shown to catalyze fullerene hydroxylation process. It allows to realized hydrolysis in water and thus to avoid undesirable application of sodium hydroxide as the source of the hydroxyl groups, which causes the fullerenol agglomeration.