title: Bulk production of a strong covalently linked (C60H(x))2 dimer.
abstract: The high-pressure treatment of C60 in an H2 atmosphere at high temperatures leads to the efficient formation of a covalently bound dimer and some oligomeric species. The resulting hydrogenated C120 is an example of the bulk production of covalently bound derivatized fullerene cores. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in conjunction with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been applied to the product analysis. The dissociation pattern of selected C120H(2x)+ ions (x > 30) indicates the dimeric structure of (C60H(x))2, as opposed to a giant hydrofullerene species possessing a fused C120 core. However, the results also clearly indicate a much stronger bonding (multiple sigma bonding) between the C60H(x) units than present in cycloaddition products. Evidence of a covalently linked dimer was obtained in labeling experiments, on the basis of which any laser-induced gas-phase aggregation of the C60H(x) monomer during the analysis is discounted.
authors.forename: Yury V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Vasil'ev
authors.forename: Sotirios G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kotsiris
authors.forename: Igor O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Bashkin
authors.forename: Vladimir E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Antonov
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Moravsky
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drewello