Helium entry and escape through a chemically opened window in a fullerene

(3)He has been inserted into the cavity of an open-cage fullerene derivative close to room temperature, reaching an incorporation fraction of 0.1%. The rate of escape of (3)He from this fullerene was monitored by (3)He NMR to yield the activation barrier and to compare the size of the orifice to those of other open-cage fullerenes. The equilibrium constant was also measured.