Embracing C(60) with multiarmed geodesic partners.

1,3,5,7,9-Pentakis(4-methoxyphenylthio)corannulene (3), 1,3,5,7,9-pentakis(2-naphthylthio)corannulene (4), and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenylthio)corannulene (5b) have been synthesized by chlorination of corannulene with ICl in CH(2)Cl(2) at 25 degrees C and subsequent nucleophilic aromatic substitution with the appropriate sodium thiophenolate in DMEU at 25 degrees C. (1)H NMR titration studies demonstrate that these novel bowl-shaped hosts form 1:1 complexes with C(60) in toluene-d(8) solution with association constants of 454, 368, and 280 M(-1), respectively.