LA2C80 - A SOLUBLE DIMETALLOFULLERENE

Application of the Kratschmer-Huffman method to a lanthana-graphite mixture yields an extractable molecule of formula La2C80, in addition to the recently reported LaC82. Its solubility properties suggest that it is similar to the well-characterized higher fullerenes C76, C78, and C84, and its estimated yield, based on laser-desorption mass spectra of (+/-)-charged molecules, is comparable to these. The finding of a series of particularly extractable molecules (La(n)C84-2n, n = 0, 1, 2) could indicate either a special type of structure or an isoelectronic series. We are attempting to isolate this molecule by chromatography.