Buckybowls: Corannulene and Its Derivatives

Corannulene, a kind of bowl like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), whose molecule is composed of a central pentagon and five closely adjacent hexagons on the pentagon's five sides, has received great scientific interest among research groups. In this review, the syntheses, characteristic molecule structure and properties of corannulene are clarified, as well as its derivatives with different substituted groups, fused derivatives, metal complex, and derivatives for host guest chemistry. On the basis of reviewing the applications and properties of corannulene together with its derivatives, the potential applications in hydrogen storage and lithium storage were highlighted and prospected.