C60F36 consists of two isomers having T and C3 symmetry

C60F36 has been obtained by fluorination of [60]fullerene with MnF3 at 350 degrees C under vacuum. HPLC separation involving elution first with toluene (to separate highly polar C60F18 which has a much longer retention time, and in one run, C60F20 which has a retention time similar to that of C60F18), then with toluene-hexane mixtures, and finally hexane, produces two main fractions of C60F36, each giving a 1404 amu mass spectrum. The F-19 NMR spectrum of the first fraction (which is also the major and more volatile component) consists of 12 lines of equal intensity showing it to have C-3 symmetry. The spectrum of the second fraction consists of three lines of equal intensity, indicating it to be the Tisomer, confirmed by C-13 NMR spectroscopy which shows two lines of equal intensity in the sp(2) region; the ratio of the two fractions is ca. 3:1, respectively. Both the Tisomer and a low energy C-3 isomer contain the C60F18 moiety as a subset. A reason for the failure to observe any of the predicted D-3d isomer is conjectured. The mass spectrum of purified C60F36 shows the presence of a trace of C60F38 (which is more volatile).