Radiation-induced trichloromethylation of C60 fullerene in carbon tetrachloride

The radiolysis Of C-60 in CCl4 has been studied in detail from the organic chemistry point of view. Solutions Of C-60 in CCl4 have been treated with gamma radiation at 25, 50, 150, and 600 kGy, and the resulting products have been studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, solid state C-13-MAS-NMR and by thermogravimetric analysis. The products have also been separated by liquid chromatographic analysis (HPLC). C-60 undergoes a multiple trichloromethylation reaction and on average about 6 trichloromethyl radicals add to the fullerene cage. The trichlorornethylation reaction is accompanied by the dimerization and trimerization Of C-60 fullerene. Also the oligomers appear to be trichloromethyl-substituted. For reference the C-60 solutions in CCl4 have also been photolyzed with UV light. Similar product as those observed in the radiolysis experiment have been detected. The main difference is that the photolysis products appear both chlorinated and trichloromethylated while the radiolysis product appear almost exclusively trichloromethylated.