Chromatographic separations of fullerenes : discovery and characterization of C60 mono-epoxide

Abstract A semi-preparative scale high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the separation of the fullerene extract components has been developed. During the course of these separations, a new fullerene species was isolated and characterized by mass spectrometry, 13 C NMR, and infrared and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. Mass spectrometry identifies this component as the mono-oxygen adduct of C 60 (C 60 O) and 13 C NMR strongly supports the epoxide structure rather than the isomeric oxido-annulene structure. In addition, the effects of different solvents on the optical absorption spectra of purified C 60 and C 70 and crystalline properties of C 60 fullerite powder are reported.