A corannulene-bis-N-imidazolium salt was used for the synthesis of two corannulene-bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes of dirhodium(I) complexes of formula (corannulene-di-NHC)[RhCl(COD)]2 and (corannulene-di-NHC)[RhCl(CO)2]2. Both complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, and the electron-donating properties of the corannulene-di-NHC ligand were studied by means of infrared spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The complex (corannulene-di-NHC)[RhCl(COD)]2 was used for the encapsulation of fullerenes C60 and C70, generating host–guest complexes with 2 : 1 stoichiometry, as evidenced by 1H NMR and ITC titrations. Then, a tetra-rhodium(I) metallo-rectangle supported by two corannulene-bis-imidazolylidene ligands and two cofacial 4,4′-bipyridine ligands was prepared and characterized. This metallobox is capable of quantitatively encapsulating fullerenes C60 and C70, forming complexes that are highly stable even at high temperatures. The molecular structure of the metallobox with encapsulated C60 reveals a perfect size and shape complementarity that benefits from the concave–convex π–π interaction between the polyaromatic surfaces of the host and the guest.
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