Gas Phase Fullerene Anions Hydrogenation by Methanol Followed by IRMPA Dehydrogenation

The characterization in the gas phase of the mechanisms responsible for hydride formation can contribute to the development of new materials for hydrogen storage. The present work provides evidence of a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation catalytic cycle for C60•− anions in the gas phase using methanol vapor at room temperature as hydrogen donor. The involvement of methanol in the reaction is confirmed by experiments using CD3OD and CD3OH. C60 hydride anions with up to 11 hydrogen atoms are identified via elemental composition analysis using FT-ICR mass spectrometry. For the longer reaction times, partial conversion of the C60 hydride ions into oxygen containing ion products occurs. Dehydrogenation using infrared multiphoton activation with a CO2 laser restores the C60•− anions.

Graphical AbstractGas-phase hydride fullerene anions are formed by reaction of fullerene anions with methanol vapor and dehydrogenated with regeneration of the fullerene anions using infrared multiphoton activation.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (95 K)Download as PowerPoint slide