CHARGE-TRANSFER REACTIONS OF FULLERENE DICATIONS WITH AROMATIC HYDROCARBON AND FULLERENE MOLECULES IN THE GAS-PHASE

Results of selected-ion flow tube experiments are reported for reactions of C60(2+) and C70(2+) with benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, C60 (buckminsterfullerene) and C70 at 294 +/- 2 K in helium gas at 0.35-0.40 Torr. Charge transfer was the only observed product channel. No evidence was obtained for the occurrence of adduct formation. This rules out the ability of doubly-charged fullerene molecules to act as nuclei for the condensation of aromatic molecules and the formation of doubly-charged "strings of fullerene beads" by successive additions of fullerene molecules under these operating conditions.