Crystal Structure of Osmylated C ₆₀ : Confirmation of the Soccer Ball Framework

Abstract

An x-ray crystal structure that confirms the soccer ball-shaped carbon framework of C(60) (buckminsterfullerene) is reported. An osmyl unit was added to C(60) in order to break its pseudospherical symmetry and give an ordered crystal. The crystal structure of this derivative, C(60)(OsO(4))(4-tert-butylpyridine)(2), reveals atomic positions within the carbon cluster.