Thermal and catalytic reactions of ethyl diazopyruvate with [60]fullerene

New stable [6,6]-methano cycloadducts and fulleropyrazolines containing electron-withdrawing groups have been obtained by the reaction of ethyl diazopyruvate with [60]fullerene. The results obtained by a systematic study conducted both in thermal and catalytic conditions have provided crucial indications concerning the mechanism of this important cluster opening process in fullerene chemistry