Matrix-assisted laser-induced gas-phase aggregation of C60 oxides

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation of C60 oxides, in conjunction with reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry, leads to an unprecedented gas-phase aggregation resulting in the formation of C120On−·. products. The analysis of the product distribution obtained for oxides of varying oxygen content strongly suggests that the structures of these species are closely related to oxo-bridged isolated fullerene cages rather than to species featuring a fused giant fullerene core.