C-2-LOSS FRAGMENTATION OF HIGHER FULLERENES AND METALLOFULLERENES

Photofragmentation investigations were performed by using chromatograp hically isolated pure samples of higher fullerenes and metallofulleren es. Quite similar distributions of fragments were commonly observed fo r five different fullerenes, and this fact supports the presence of a ''scrambled-cage'' structure in a highly excited fullerene cage. An en hancement of the C-60 and C-70 signals was also observed as a result o f ''delayed C-2-loss'' fragmentation within a time scale of about 60 m u s after photoexcitation. Photodissociation study of mono- and di-met allofullerenes revealed the qualitative difference in the fragment dis tributions between them, suggesting that LaC82 would possess an endohe dral, and Sc2C84 an exohedral, form.