SELECTIVE SOLUTION-PHASE GENERATION AND OXIDATION REACTION OF C-60(N-) (N=1,2) AND FORMATION OF AN AQUEOUS COLLOIDAL SOLUTION OF C-60

The facile chemical methods for the selective solution-phase generatio n of C-60(n-) (n = 1,2) and the preparation of an aqueous colloidal so lution of C-60 are reported. When C-60 was treated with Al-Ni alloy or tin (or zinc powder or sodium hydrosulfite) in aqueous NaOH-THF or in aqueous NaOH-DMSO or DMF, C-60(-) or C-60(2-) was produced selectivel y with no need for control of stoichiometry, The reaction products wer e characterized by ESI-MS, VIS-NIR, EPR and C-13 NMR spectroscopies, I t was found that C-60(n-) (n = 1,2) was inert to water, but very sensi tive to oxygen, The oxidation reaction of C-60(2-) with oxygen follows the sequence: C-60(2-) --> C-60(1-) --> C-60, which is monitored by N IR absorption spectroscopy. When C-60(n-) = 1,2) is oxidized in aqueou s solution the C-60 sol is formed, but in dry organic solvent black C- 60 powder is deposited. It was proved that the sol was composed of C-6 0 by UV, FTIR and ESIMS, Transmission electron microscope analysis sho wed that the colloidal particles, ca. 10 nm in diameter, were noncryst alline and quite homogeneous.