RAPID SULFATION KINETICS OF FULLERENE IN OLEUM-OXIDE MIXTURES

Abstract

Fast kinetics of fullerene sulfation reaction was observed in H₂SO₄–SO₃ (28–30%) in the presence of metal oxides, such as V₂O₅ and, to a lesser extent, SeO₂, showing nearly spontaneous production of hexacyclosulfated C₆₀. Detection of dodecahydroxylated C₆₀ in the reaction products revealed formation of hexacyclosulfated C₆₀ even at an early stage of reaction. Partially sulfated C₆₀ molecules exhibit a higher reactivity toward further sulfation than the parent fullerene molecules. A much faster sulfation rate of C₆₀ in comparison with that of C₇₀ under similar reaction conditions allows one to produce relatively pure dodecahydroxy[60]fullerene from a mixture of C₆₀ and C₇₀.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 89-2113-M002-022). The authors thank Mr. S. J. Wang of Instrumentation Center of National Tsing Hwa University, Taiwan for the LSIMS/FAB measurements.