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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Computation of Atmospheric Concentrations of Molecular Clusters from ab initio Thermochemistry
Published on: April 8, 2020
Large odd-numbered carbon clusters from fullerene-ozone reactions
Abstract:
The odd-numbered carbon clusters C(119), C(129), and C(139) have been observed in the mass spectra of toluene extracts of fullerene soots and of the products of ozone-fullerene reactions. Specifically, ozone-C(60) reactions yield C(119), ozone-C(70) reactions yield C(139), and ozone-(C(60)/C(70)) reactions produce C(119), C(129), and C(139). These unexpected species correspond to dimers of C(60), C(60)/C(70), and C(70), respectively, less one carbon atom, and are stable gas-phase ions with behavior similar to that of fullerenes. The results suggest a new route to functionalization and derivatization of fullerenes through controlled ozone-catalyzed cage-opening reactions.
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