The electrochemical reduction of fullerenes, C60 and C70

The hexaanion of fullerene, C(60)(6-), was obtained in 1:5 (v/v) acetonitrile-toluene mixture with a mercury hemispherical ultramicroelectrode as a working electrode at a temperature of up to 30 degrees C. The C(70)(6-) ion also can be observed under the same conditions. The differences between the redox potentials of C(60) relative to C(70) indicate that it is easier to add electrons to C(70) and its anions compared to the counterparts of C(60). The results show that the mercury electrode is very suitable for investigation of the properties of the electrochemical reduction for the fullerenes, particularly C(60), at room temperature.     

Ionization and excitation of C60, C70, and C80 fullerenes

Good agreement of E_SCF results for the ionization potentials with the corresponding one-electron levels in C₆₀, C₇₀, and C₈₀ fullerenes, as well as with generalizations of the Koopmans theorem to cases considering various one-electron transitions in ions, was observed. Both are in good agreement with the available experimental data. An explanation is given both for the agreement and for the existing deviations, according to which the dispersions of the results for the ionization potentials obtained in a number of studies of the Koopmans theorem should be ascribed to differences in the parametrization and methods of construction of the semiempirical Fockian for acceptable methods of calculation.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 501–513, November–December, 1993.     

Studies of the photoexcited states of the fullerenes, C60 and C70

The spectra of C₆₀ and C₇₀ were examined using low-temperature photoluminescence and quasi-elastic light scattering spectroscopy. A detailed vibronic analysis of the lowest triplet and singlet excited states of C₇₀ is obtained. The lowest triplet state is identified as a ³E₁′ state and the vibronic structure consists primarily of Herzberg-Teller active e₂′ modes. The intensity of the electronic origin is comparable to the vibronically induced intensity and is extraordinarily solvent sensitive. The spectrum of monosubstituted C₆₀ is shown to be qualitatively similar to that of C₆₀ in polar or strongly complexing solvents. The principal effect of solvent interaction or substitution is to induce dipole intensity in the orbitally forbidden electronic origins of the luminescent states of C₆₀ and C₇₀. The Rayleigh scattering of fullerene solutions illustrates that solute aggregation occurs easily and that aggregate nucleation is strongly affected by surfaces in contact with the solution.     

Preparation and study of hydrides of fullerenes C60 and C70

Fullerene hydrides were prepared by hydrogenation of fullerences C₆₀ and C₇₀ using proton transfer from 9,10-dihydroanthracene to fullerene and were studied by mass spectrometry (electron impact, field desorption), IR, UV, and¹H and¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The main product of the hydrogenation of C₆₀ is C₆₀H₃₆, which is sufficiently stable. Hydrogenation of fullerene C₇₀ gives a series of polyhydrides C₇₀H _n (n=36–46), and the main product is C₇₀H₃₆. The dehydrogenation of C₆₀H₃₆ by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone is not quantitative and results in the formation of fullerene derivatives along with C₆₀. The comparison of the IR and¹H and¹³C NMR spectral data for solid C₆₀H₃₆ with the theoretical calculations suggests that the fullerene hydride has aT-symmetric structure and contains four isolated benzenoid rings located at tetrahedral positions on the surface of the closed skeleton of the molecule. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya. No. 4, pp. 671–678, April, 1997.     

Adsorption isotherms of the fullerenes C60 and C70 on a tetraphenylporphyrin-bonded silica

The single-component adsorption isotherms of the C60 (from 0 to 15 g/L) and C70 (from 0 to 8 g/L) buckminsterfullerenes on a tetraphenylporphyrin-bonded silica were acquired by frontal analysis, using a solution of toluene-1-methylnaphthalene (40:60, v/v) as the mobile phase. The best isotherm model derived from the fitting of these adsorption data was the bi-Langmuir model, a choice supported by the bimodal affinity energy distribution (AED) obtained for C60. The isotherm parameters derived from the inverse method (IM) of isotherm determination (by fitting calculated profiles to experimental overloaded band profiles of C60 and C70) are in very good agreement with those derived from the FA data. According to the isotherm parameters found by these three methods (FA, AED, IM), the tetraphenylporphyrin-bonded silica can adsorb 54 and 42 mmol/L of C60 and C70 fullerenes, respectively, a result that is consistent with the relative molecular size of these two compounds. The 20% lower surface accessibility for C70 is compensated by a three times higher equilibrium constant on the low-energy sites, giving a selectivity alpha(C70/C60) = 3.6. Large volumes (0.2, 0.8 and 1.7 mL) of mixtures of C60 (3.2 g/L) and C70 (1.3 g/L) were injected and their elution profiles compared to those calculated from the competitive bi-Langmuir model derived from the single-component isotherm data. A good agreement is obtained between calculated and experimental profiles, which supports the two-site adsorption mechanism derived from the single-component adsorption data. The measurements of the influence of the pressure on the retention of C60 and C70 demonstrate that the partial molar volumes of the two buckminsterfullerenes are 12 mL/mol larger in the stationary than in the mobile phase.     

Thermal behavior of a mixture of fullerenes and fullerites C60/70

The thermal behavior of a mixture of fullerites C_60/70 was studied by X-ray diffraction and IR and UV spectroscopy. The temperature range in which the molecular and crystal states degrade was determined (825?C875°C in a CO medium). In the C_60/70 mixture, fullerenes decomposed at lower temperatures than in pure C₆₀ and C₇₀; the decomposition temperature depended on the impurity (oxygen and solvent) content.     

Reactions of excited fullerenes C60 and C70 studied by mass spectrometry

The transformation of the mass spectra of the laser-desorbed C₆₀ and C₇₀ samples with a successive increase in the laser power, resulting in an increase in the degree of excitation of C₆₀ (C₇₀) and in the number of the particles in the laser plume, was studied. Unusual metastable clusters (C₆₀ + C₂) and (C₇₀ + C₂) are formed even at a minimum laser power and begin to dissociate after 0.5 s following a short (3 ns) laser pulse. An increase in the laser power results in the appearance of peaks of metastable clusters C₆₂ (C₇₂) with the statistically normal lifetime without a delay of dissociation. A further increase in the laser power produces metastable clusters C_60k–2n and C_70k–2n (k = 2, 3) formed without a lag from the dimers and trimers of C₆₀ (C₇₀) by the ejection of a number of C₂ required for the stabilization of the C₂ molecules. The peak of C₇₀ appears simultaneously with the appearance of the (C₆₀)_2–2n peaks upon the laser desorption of pure C₆₀. These findings provide evidence for the growth of the excited fullerene clusters by coalescence and subsequent stabilization due to the ejection of a small fragment rather than by the implantation of C₂ into the fullerene framework. This mechanism of cluster growth should be taken into consideration in modeling fullerene formation in an electric arc reactor, because the clusters formed under these conditions have a substantial excess internal energy.     

Distribution of C60 and C70 fullerenes in the extraction system (C60 + C70)-α-pinene-ethanol-H2O

The distribution of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes in the extraction system (C₆₀ + C₇₀)-α-pinene-ethanol-H₂O was studied at constant C₆₀ to C₇₀ ratio and variable total fullerene concentration at 25°C. The relationship between the C₆₀ and C₇₀ content in ethanol (I) and α-pinene (II) phases is nonlinear over the entire fullerene concentration range.     

New approach for sensitive photothermal detection of C60 and C70 fullerenes on micro-thin-layer chromatographic plates

In this paper the pulse thermovision (photothermal) detection and quantification methods of C60 and C70 fullerenes are presented. Quantification results are compared with optical and fluorescence measurements. Target components were separated under isothermal conditions (30 °C) on micro-TLC plates (RP18WF₂₅₄S) using n-hexane as the mobile phase. The principle of described analytical protocol is based on sensitive measurement of the temperature contrast generated within TLC stationary phase and fullerenes spots after white light pulse excitation. It has been demonstrated that observed temperature contrast is mainly driven by the optical properties of fullerenes (UV–vis absorption spectra). Contrary to the commonly applied optical reflection or transmission techniques the proposed thermovision method involves dissipated light. The results of presented experimental work have revealed that both types of quantitative measurements provide similar outcome despite the key differences in the signal origin. However, it has been found that thermovision method was characterized by smaller value of LOD, particularly for C60 molecule. We demonstrated that application of correlation technique to post-acquisition analysis of the sequence of temperature contrast images significantly increase detection limits of fullerenes, even in comparison to fluorescence quenching detection mode. Moreover, the thermal contrast images and particularly, computed correlation image, allow detection of stationary phase layer nonuniformities, including changes in the adsorbent thickness and thermal conductivity. Therefore, invented pulsed thermovision methodology can be additionally used for fast quality screening of home made and commercially available TLC plates.     

A model of perealkylation reactions of trifluormethyl derivatives of fullerenes C60 and C70

A computational model for determination of the product composition of perealkylation reactions in mixtures of trifluormethyl derivatives C_60/70(CF₃) _n (n = 0–20) is proposed. Qualification of the model is carried out over a series of experiments on high-temperature annealing of mixtures of trifluormethyl derivatives of fullerenes and pure fullerenes.     

IR-Fourier spectroscopic studies of structural changes in fullerenes C60 and C70-Toluene systems

The C₆₀-toluene and C₇₀-toluene complexes were studied by IR-Fourier spectroscopy. The complexes were obtained by crystallization from a toluene solution at room temperature. The changes in the IR spectra caused by the deformation of toluene molecules in the complexes allowed us to study the phase transitions in the fullerene-aromatic solvent systems.     

Production of carbon soot with a high content of C60 and C70 fullerenes by electric arc

The effect of the parameters of the electric arc (helium pressure, current and voltage, clearance between electrodes) and of the peculiarities of the setup design (arrangement of electrodes, distance between the arc and the cooling surface, temperature of the soot condensation surface) on the yield of fullerenes has been studied. Conditions for producing soot with a C₆₀ and C₇₀ content up to 43% (toluene extract) have been found.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 805–809, May, 1994.The authors are grateful to N. G. Spitsyna and A. V. Dubovitskii for the determination of the content of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes in the extract.The work was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project 93-03-18705).     

Electrochemical oxidation and reduction of rhodium and iridium complexes with fullerenes C60 and C70

The electrochemical behavior of rhodium and iridium complexes with fullerences C₆₀ and C₇₀ was studied by cyclic voltammetry in a THF—toluene mixture. The complexes were found to be capable of oxidation and reduction. It was demonstrated that thein situ generation of metallofullerene complexes in the electrochemical cell by the interaction of C₆₀ and C₇₀ with hydridocarbonylphosphine complexes of rhodium and iridium, HM(CO)(PPh₃)₃, is possible. The influence of structural factors and the action of CO₂ on changes in the redox properties of fullerene complexes was considered.     

Reactions of carbanions of bis(dialkoxyphosphoryl)bromomethane with fullerenes C60 and C70

The reactions of carbanions of bis(dialkoxyphosphoryl)bromomethanes with fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ afforded new bis(dialkoxyphosphoryl)methanofullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀, respectively, whose structures were established by spectroscopic methods.     

Retention of C60 and C70 fullerenes on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic stationary phases.

The separation of C60 and C70 fullerenes on four different polysiloxane stationary phases was examined. It was determined that polar solvents can be used as mobile phases effectively for the separation of fullerene molecules. Unlike previously published work, a polymeric octadecyl siloxane (ODS) stationary phase provided higher separation factors for C70/C60 than did monomeric ODS stationary phases or phenyl substituted stationary phases. For example, for a methanol-diethyl ether (50:50, v/v) mobile phase and C60, k' approximately 5.0 separation factors, alpha = 3.3, were achieved with polymeric ODS compared to alpha = 2.2, with a monomeric ODS stationary phase. A linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) was used to model the importance of solvent interactions and stationary phase interaction to solute retention.     

Metallation of fullerenes: electrochemical synthesis and voltammetric study of heterometallic C60 and C70 complexes

Electrochemical synthesis and voltammetric study of new heterotrimetallic exohedral derivatives of [60]- and [70]fullerenes containing palladium and manganese atoms were carried out. The MO involved in redox transitions were determined by the semiempirical quantum-chemical calculations and by the comparison of the potentials for the redox transitions of the heterotrimetallic complexes and their fullerene and metal-containing fragments.     

Fast separation and quantification of C60 and C70 fullerenes using thermostated micro thin-layer chromatography.

Thermostated micro planar chromatography was applied for systematic separation studies of C60 and C70 fullerenes using n-alkanes as mobile phases on TLC and HPTLC plates coated with polyamide, silica gel, aluminum oxide as well as two types of octadecylsilica (C18) sorbents. Retention data were collected at constant temperature at 20 degrees C (+/-0.05 degrees C) using an unsaturated chamber mode with an eluent, such as n-pentane, n-hexane and n-heptane. The separation results under both saturated and unsaturated chamber modes for selected mobile/stationary phases were also examined, and several parameters, including separation factor (alpha) and resolution (R(S)), were compared with data obtained with high-performance liquid chromatography conditions. Interestingly, C60/C70 fullerenes separation performed on HPTLC plates with a developing distance of 45 mm was better for those observed on a 25 cm length analytical HPLC column under similar conditions to that on carbon coverage of the stationary phase, n-hexane as the mobile phase and separation temperature (R(S) = 1.84 and 1.68 for HPTLC, and HPLC, respectively). Moreover the advantage of the planar chromatographic separation of fullerenes studied is a short elution time of less than 6 min. Furthermore, the reported separation protocol shows a capability for the evaluation of fullerenes quantity in commercial samples.     

Water-soluble complexes of poly(N-vinylamides) of various structures with C60 and C70 fullerenes

By the example of the interaction of fullerene C₆₀ and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), the effect of formation conditions of water-soluble fullerene-containing donor-acceptor polymer systems on their composition and structure has been studied. On the basis of these results, a new technique has been developed for preparing water-soluble polymer systems of this kind with the use of o-dichlorobenzene as a component of the reaction medium. This technique has been employed to prepare water-soluble fullerene-containing complexes of poly(N-vinylamides) of various structures (polymers and copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylcaprolactam) containing up to 3–5 wt % of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes. These values are 3–6 times higher than those described previously.     

Separation of C60 and C70 fullerenes on silica modified by polyaromatic and π-acid aromatic compounds

Separation of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes by HPLC was studied using sorbents synthesized by reaction of perylenedicarboxylic anhydride, dimethoxyviolanthrene, the tetramer of chromotropic acid with formaldehyde (TCA), trinitrobenzoyl chloride, or chlorotrinitrobenzene with γ-aminopropyl silica. These sorbents possess satisfactory chromatographic properties. The sorbent based on TCA is effective for separation of preparative amounts of fullerenes. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1544–1546, August, 1997.