PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF C-119

Thermolysis of C120O at 550-600 degrees C yielded a soluble product fr action containing C-60, C-119 and higher-mass species. Using a two-ste p HPLC procedure two species, both with molecular weight corresponding to C-119, were isolated in 3.5% and 2% yield. The 125.76 MHz C-13-NMR spectrum of the latter more stable product obtained from C-13 enriche d samples proved that this species consists of two C-58 cages bridged by three sp(3) carbons, two of which are equivalent. MR-consistent C-1 19 structures have been investigated by molecular modeling and turned out to exhibit C-2 symmetry.