Reaction of hydrogen gas with C60 at elevated pressure and temperature: hydrogenation and cage fragmentation

Products of the reaction of C(60) with H(2) gas have been monitored by high-resolution atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (APPI FT-ICR MS), X-ray diffraction, and IR spectroscopy as a function of hydrogenation period. Samples were synthesized at 673 K and 120 bar hydrogen pressure for hydrogenation periods between 300 and 5000 min, resulting in the formation of hydrofullerene mixtures with hydrogen content ranging from 1.6 to 5.3 wt %. Highly reduced C(60)H(x) (x > 36-40) and products of their fragmentation were identified in these samples by APPI FT-ICR MS. A sharp change in structure was observed for samples with at least 5.0 wt % of hydrogen. Low-mass (300-500 Da) hydrogenation products not observed by prior field desorption (FD) FT-ICR MS were detected by APPI FT-ICR MS and their elemental compositions obtained for the first time. Synthetic and analytical fragmentation pathways are discussed.