C₆₀F₃₆ Consists of two isomers having T and C₃ symmetry

Abstract

C₆₀F₃₆ has been obtained by fluorination of [60]fullerene with MnF₃ at 350 °C under vacuum. HPLC separation involving elution first with toluene (to separate highly polar C₆₀F₁₈which 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 ¹⁹F 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 C₃ symmetry. The spectrum of the second fraction consists of three lines of equal intensity, indicating it to be the T isomer, confirmed by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy which shows two lines of equal intensity in the sp² region; the ratio of the two fractions is ca. 3∶1, respectively. Both the T isomer and a low energy C₃ 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).

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