Chain fullerene C60 = C = C60 = C = C60: possible way to all-carbon polymers.

: In this paper, we firstly report a simple but very useful process to extend fullerene chains from monomers via C-bridges: C60 --> C60 -- C -- C60 --> C60 -- C -- C60 -- C -- C60, similar to extending CH4 or CH2 = CH2 to synthesize longer alkyl or alkene chains and these-based materials. The self-assembled formation of C60 -- C -- C60 -- C -- C60 from C60 -- C -- C60 was found to be an isomer-selective process. The results offer a valuable access to C60-based new materials of diverse functionalities, and an implication to the large scale utilization of C60 in polymer science.