Results

1. Results In our first experiment, we attempted to replicate the results of Taylor et. al. [1]. Mass spectrometric analysis of sample 1 revealed a peak at m / z = 720 (spectrum A). This mass / charge ratio and isotopic distribution is consistent with that previously reported for [60]fullerene [10]. Additionally, peaks with mass / charge ratios indicative of various hydrogenated fullerenes, C40Hx, C50Hx, C60Hx, C70Hx, appear in the mass spectrum of this sample (spectrum B). The appearance of these compounds supports the mechanism described by Taylor et. al. for the successive combination of C10 fragments, followed by dehydrogenation, to form [60]fullerene [1]. Unfortunately, at the time this experiment was performed, we had no means to measure the temperature in the pyrolysis zone, nor the flowrate of helium through the apparatus. Mass spectrum C (sample 2) contains peaks with m / z ratios that may also represent hydrogenated fullerenes. A high-resolution spectrum (D) is presented. Exact masses and corresponding compounds are listed in Table 3. The conditions under which this sample was obtained are presented in Table 1. Sample 3, presented in mass spectrum E, also appears to contain hydrogenated fullerenes. Table 2 describes the reflux conditions for dehydrogenation. Mass spectrum F was obtained from an aliquot taken at the end of this reflux. The decrease from m / z = 748 to m / z = 738 suggests that some hydrogen removal did occur. It is not clear whether or not the peak at m / z = 228 (not shown) is an indication of the hydroquinone, or merely part of the isotopic distribution of the DDQ.