An artificial molecule of Ne2 inside C70

Abstract C 70 was heated with 22 Ne at high pressure. Analysis by mass spectrometry unexpectedly showed the formation of Ne 2 @C 70 in addition to Ne@C 70 . The ratio of empty C 70 to mono-occupied to di-occupied was 1000:1:0.02. A mechanism where a small fraction of the fullerene breaks open and reaches equilibrium with the neon and then closes is suggested to explain these results.