Proton elimination in charge-separation reactions with hydrogen halides driven by chemical-bond formation with triply-charged C60 cations

Experimental results are reported which demonstrate the efficient elimination of protons in charge-separation reactions of C60·3+ with HCl and HBr at room temperature. Two mechanisms are observed for the production of protons in these ion/molecule reactions: dissociative electron transfer and halide transfer with concomitant chemical-bond formation. Both occur in the reaction with HBr which produces protons in all reactive collisions.