Separation of N2@C60 and N@C60

Chemistry. 2002 Nov 15;8(22):5079-83. doi: 10.1002/1521-3765(20021115)8:22<5079::AID-CHEM5079>3.0.CO;2-H.

Abstract

We describe the HPLC separation and identification of N@C60 and N2@C60. These species were observed after eleven sequential HPLC separations. Their retention times are in the same range as those of the other noninteractive endohedral species of C60, such as noble gas endohedral C60. The separation factors of these endohedrals were evaluated by using a mixture of hexane/toluene as eluent. We note that this is the first evidence for the N2@C60 molecule existing in the form of endohedral C60 complex.