MATRIX-ISOLATION OF FULLERENE-DERIVED CO2 AT AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE

Heating fullerene oxides, e.g. C120O, C70O, C60O and C60O2, in a KBr m atrix at 225 degrees C under 0.2 mbar vacuum, produces a sharp IR band at 2330 cm(-1) due to matrix-isolated CO2. The band is also obtained by heating a KBr matrix of the insoluble deposits that fullerenes form on standing in air. The matrices are extremely stable and are unchang ed even by prolonged heating at 225 degrees C under vacuum. Heating a KBr matrix of the deposit from C-84 produces also a sharp stable band at 2035 cm(-1) consistent with matrix-isolated C-3. Similar treatment of C70F38O produces matrices containing both CO2 and CO, the latter be ing of lower stability. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.