Novel synthesis and characterization of five isomers of (C(70))(2) fullerene dimers.

The synthesis and characterization of dimers and polymers, wherein two or more cages are linked, represent an important frontier in the chemistry of fullerene derivatives. A simple and novel method that requires no special apparatus has been developed for the dimerization of 70]fullerene to (C70)2. Upon grinding 70]fullerene in a mortar and pestle in the presence of K2CO3, five structural isomers of (C70)2 have been produced. These isomers are separated from one another via high performance liquid chromatography and are characterized by 13C NMR, UV-vis-NIR absorption and mass spectroscopy.