ISOLATION AND SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF SC2-AT-C74, SC2-AT-C82, AND SC2-AT-C84

The endohedral discandium fullerenes, SC2@C74, SC2@C82, and SC2@C84, have been isolated for the first time from soot prepared by the arc burning Of SC203/graphite composite rods. The separation and isolation of the metallofullerenes from various hollow fullerenes have been realized by using a two-stage high-performance liquid chromatography. Laser-desorption time-of-flight mass analyses of the present samples confirm the isolation of the discandium fullerenes. The discandium fullerene, Sc2@C74, has been newly found in this study. The UV-vis absorption spectra of the isolated SC2@C74, SC2@C82, and Sc2@C84 reveal several salient features which are totally absent in those of the corresponding hollow fullerenes such as C76, C78, C82, and C84.