Fullerenes.

 

1985 Mass spectrum of laser-vapourized graphite - predominance of C60 and C70

1990 Bulk production - Soot from evaporation of pure graphite rods by an electric discharge in an atmosphere of Helium at about 100 mbar

contains ca. 5% fullerenes.

- Fullerene content of soot dissolved into benzene.

- C60 and C70 separated by chromatography on alumina.

- Other C2n cages are obtained in smaller yield and impure.

 

 
C60 magenta solid C70</i> red-brown solid

 magenta solution in benzene red solution in benzene

 single line in 13C NMR 5 lines in 13C NMR
 

     Structure of C60

  • soccer ball structure
  • 12 pentagons
  • 20 benzene-like hexagons
  • all atoms are equivalent
  • 2 distinct types of bond
  • hex-hex edge 140 pm (C=C)
  • hex-pent edge 146 pm (C-C)
  • solid is fcc lattice of C60 spheres Reactivity of C60

    •                  Click to enlarge

     

    Copyright Dr. D. O'Hare 1996.