Interaction of Mn+ and Mn2+ with C60. Exohedral and endohedral metal-fullerene bonding

Mn+ and Mn2+ were reacted with C60 vapor in a guided-ion beam mass spectrometer. In addition to the expected charge transfer and fragmentation products, we also observed two distinct forms of an MnC60+ adduct. At low collision energies a weakly bound adduct forms with no activation energy. This is attributed to an exohedral complex. At high collision energies a second isomer of MnC60+ is observed, that has a substantial activation barrier for formation and decomposition. Possible structures for this high energy isomer are discussed. In reaction with Mn2+, exohedral adduct formation efficiency is substantially increased, yet no di-manganese adduct is observed.