Unimolecular dissociation of multiply-charged fullerene ions via the loss of intact C6+ units

In addition to previously reported spontaneous decay reactions involving the loss of C2+ and C4+, i.e. C60z+ → C59(z−1)+ + C2+ and C60z+ → C56(z−1)+ + C4+, we have also been observed decay reactions such as C604+ → C543+, C584+ → C523+, C564+ → C503+ and C602+ → C542+ involving the overall loss of C6+. Based on a detailed analysis of tve kinetic energy release of the larger fragment ions C543+, C523+, C503+ amd C542+ respectively, by two-sector field mass spectrometryu (MIKE scans) we can conclude that these reactions proceed via the evaporation of an intact C6+ unit (and not via the sequential loss of smaller molecular carbon units).