LARGE ODD-NUMBERED CARBON CLUSTERS FROM FULLERENE-OZONE REACTIONS

The odd-numbered carbon clusters C119, C129, and C139 have been observ ed in the mass spectra of toluene extracts of fullerene soots and of t he products of ozone-fullerene reactions. Specifically, ozone-C60 reac tions yield C119, ozone-C70 reactions yield C139, and ozone-(C60/C70) reactions produce C119, C129, and C139. These unexpected species corre spond to dimers of C60, C60/C70, and C70, respectively, less one carbo n atom, and are stable gas-phase ions with behavior similar to that of fullerenes. The results suggest a new route to functionalization and derivatization of fullerenes through controlled ozone-catalyzed cage-o pening reactions.