Thermal Stability of C60-Methylnaphthalenes Solvates

The crystalline solvates containing fullerenes and (di)methylnaphthalenes were investigated by thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction methods. It was found that C₆₀ with (di)methylnaphthalenes forms two types of stable solvates: either at the molar ratio 1:2 decomposing at temperatures close to 100°C or at 1:1 molar ratio decomposing in the temperature range 120–214°C. Crystalline lattice and thermal stability of the solvates depends on the structure of the solvent molecules. The strong solute-solvent interaction is also manifested by the modification of the C₆₀ absorption spectra in solution. The results are discussed using semiempirical quantum chemistry methods. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.