Using a two-step liquid chromatographic method, the metallofullerene L
aC82 has been isolated for the first time from the carbon soot. The is
olated LaC82 was well identified as a stable molecule classified to a
novel family of fullerene cage molecules. Comparison of the IR absorpt
ion spectra between LaC82 and C82 empty fullerene suggests an endohedr
al form for LaC82 with the same cage structure (C2 SYMMetry) previousl
y proposed for C82. The presence of electronic absorption in the near-
infrared region strongly supports the formation of an open-shell elect
ronic structure for LaC82.