Isolation and characterisation of fluorinated derivatives of [76]- and [78]fullerenes

From the fluorination of [76]fullerene with MnF3 at 450-500 degrees C, foll owed by HPLC separation of 2-3 mg of the products, we have isolated and cha racterised the following derivatives: C76F36, C76F38 (the main component, o f C-1 symmetry), C76F40 (five isomers, one of which has C-2 symmetry), C76F 42, C76F44, C76F40O, and C76F39OH (containing also some C76F37OH, and C76F4 1OH) and C78F42 (arising from traces of [78]fullerene present in the origin al [76]fullerene). Two unresolved mixtures were also obtained, one consisti ng of C76F32 and C78F38, the other consisting of other isomers of C76F36, C 76F38, C76F40 and C76F42. The compounds are essentially colourless, but giv e lemon-coloured solutions in toluene due to formation of charge-transfer c omplexes.