C60F18O:: Isolation, spectroscopic characterisation and structural calculations

C60F18O, obtained as a by product of fluorination of [60]fullerene with K2PtF6, has C-s symmetry, the oxygen being located in one of the symmetry planes of C-3v C60F18. C60F20, isolated in low yield, also has C-s symmetry arising from addition of F-2 either across or (more probably) in the symmetry plane of C60F18. The results are compared with theoretical predictions of the structures. C60F18. CF2 has also been obtained as a byproduct of the production of C60F18 and provides further confirmation of the parallel between fluorination and hydrogenation (which correspondingly gives methylene adducts), the adducts being produced by cage fragmentation in each case. A 790 amu species (as yet uncharacterised but which may be either C60F2O2 or C60CF3H) is detected in some samples.