Compound and method for the selective extraction of higher fullerenes from mixtures of fullerenes

A compound of formula I

• wherein O—X—NH— is a C2 to C5 alkyl, aryl or benzyl;
• R1 is selected from the group comprising linear or branched alkyl and polyethers, optionally unsaturated;
• R2 and R3 are selected independently from the group comprising H, hydroxyl, protected alcohol functionalities, ether, acyl, carboxylate, alkoxycarbonyl;
• linear or branched alkyl optionally unsaturated and optionally substituted by one or more of the following:
• carbocycles, heterocarbocycles, aromatic rings, heteroaromatic rings, hydroxyl, protected alcohol functionalities, ether, acyl, carboxylate and akoxycarbonyl;
• cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, benzyl which are optionally substituted by one or more of the following:
• alkyl, hydroxyl, protected alcohol functionalities, ether, acyl, carboxylate and alkoxycarbonyl;
• or wherein R2 and R3 together form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic group having from 5 to 8 members, optionally fused to other cyclic systems and optionally substituted by one or more of the following:
• alkyl, hydroxyl, protected alcohol functionalities, ether, acyl, carboxylate and alkoxycarbonyl.