ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE METALLOFULLERENE LAC82

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.