An Efficient Method to Separate Sc3N@C80 Ih and D5h Isomers and Sc3N@C78 by Selective Oxidation with Acetylferrocenium [Fe(COCH3C5H4)Cp]+

Based on the different oxidation potentials of endohedral fullerenes Sc₃N@C₈₀ I_h and D_5h and Sc₃N@C₇₈, an efficient and useful method that avoids HPLC has been developed for their separation. Selective chemical oxidation of the Sc₃N@D_5h‐C₈₀ isomer and Sc₃N@C₇₈ by using an acetylferrocenium salt [Fe(COCH₃C₅H₄)Cp]⁺ followed by column chromatographic separation and reduction with CH₃SNa resulted in the isolation of pure Sc₃N@I_h‐C₈₀, Sc₃N@C₇₈, and a mixture of Sc₃N@D_5h‐C₈₀ and Sc₃N@C₆₈.