The Higher Fullerenes: Isolation and Characterization of C ₇₆ , C ₈₄ , C ₉₀ , C ₉₄ , and C ₇₀ O, an Oxide of D _5h -C ₇₀

Abstract

The toluene extract of the fluffy carbon material produced by resistive heating of graphite contains a variety of molecules larger than C(60) and C(70) in a total amount of 3 to 4% by weight. Repeated chromatography of this material on neutral alumina has led to the isolation of stable solid samples of C(76), C(84), C(90), and C(94). The characterization, which includes mass spectrometry, (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance, electronic absorption (ultraviolet/visible) and vibrational (infrared) spectroscopy identifies these all-carbon molecules as higher fullerenes. In addition, C(70)O, a stable oxide, has been isolated that is structurally and electronically closely related to D5h-C(70). This compound forms during the resistive heating process and probably has an oxygen atom inserted between two carbon atoms on the convex external surface of the C(70) skeleton.