Isolation and characterisation of fluorinated derivatives of [76]- and [78]fullerenes

From the fluorination of [76]fullerene with MnF3 at 450-500 degrees C, followed by HPLC separation of 2-3 mg of the products, we have isolated and characterised the following derivatives: C76F36, C76F38 (the main component, of C-1 symmetry), C76F40 (five isomers, one of which has C-2 symmetry), C76F42, C76F44, C76F40O, and C76F39OH (containing also some C76F37OH, and C76F41OH) and C78F42 (arising from traces of [78]fullerene present in the original [76]fullerene). Two unresolved mixtures were also obtained, one consisting of C76F32 and C78F38, the other consisting of other isomers of C76F36, C76F38, C76F40 and C76F42. The compounds are essentially colourless, but give lemon-coloured solutions in toluene due to formation of charge-transfer complexes.