DIRECT ANALYSIS OF C-60 AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS WITH ELECTROSPRAY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Without performing any charge transfer chemical reaction, C-60 and its derivatives could be analyzed directly by electrospray mass spectrome try. Oxidation or reduction at the metal/solution interface of the pro be tip was probably responsible for the formation of these radical cat ions and anions. This technique appeared to be superior to desorption chemical ionization and fast-atom bombardment ionization in the analys is of C-60 derivatives because the mass spectra were characterized by molecular ions with little or no fragmentation.