Coordination of buckybowls: The first concave-bound metal complex

Bowled over with success: The first π coordination to a concave surface of a buckybowl has been achieved in the binding of a {CpFe}⁺ unit (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) to sumanene (see picture). This was accomplished by a solid-state approach and represents an important step toward inclusion complexes of buckybowls, fullerenes, and nanotubes. (Figure Presented)