Synthesis of the first water-soluble trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerols

Novel water-soluble trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerols, Sc3N·C80(OH)∼10(O)∼10, have been synthesized from polyanionic radical intermediates. These metallofullerols were characterized using a variety of methods, although small quantities of material hamper the ability to fully characterize. Metallofullerols containing paramagnetic metal atoms could one day be used as MRI contrasting agents.