NUCLEAR-SPIN WEIGHTS AND GAS-PHASE SPECTRAL STRUCTURE OF C-12(60) AND C-13(60) BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE

Rotational energy levels and high resolution rovibrational spectra of gas phase buckminsterfullerene is strongly effected by the Pauli exclusion principle. Very different rovibrational fine structure patterns will be seen for differing arrangements of C-13 and C-12 isotopes. Only two extreme cases C-12(60) and C-13(60) actually have icosahedral symmetry. Those two cases will have relatively uncluttered spectral patterns and simpler rotational dynamics. Their analysis in tum will be a prerequisite to analyses of rotational dynamics of mixed cases. An understanding of gas phase rotational dynamics may also help to understand dynamics of icosahedral hindered rotors in the fullerite solids.