PROPERTIES OF ENDOHEDRAL N-AT-C-60

Endohedral N@C-60 (atomic nitrogen inside C-60) is produced by ion imp lantation. N@C-60 is soluble in organic solvents and stable in air. A special feature is that it gives a very clear hyperfine split EPR sign al with sharp lines even in the solid. This makes it an ideal probe fo r monitoring chemical reactions of C-60 via changes of the EPR signal. As an example, the formation of the monoadduct of diethyl malonate on C-60 will be discussed. In general, N@C-60 can be used as a probe or tracer for monitoring reactions or the transport of C-60. We show that C-60 is an ideal trap for atomic nitrogen. Nitrogen is in the center of C-60 and keeps its atomic structure. In a first experiment, the vib rations of nitrogen in C-60 were studied. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Lt d. All rights reserved.