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(7) Rohlfmg, E. A.; Cox, D. M.; Kaldor, A. J. Chem. Phys. 1984, 81, 3322.(8) Heath, J. R.; O’Brien, S. C.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, Q.; Curl, R. F.; Tittel, F. K.; Kroto, H. W.; Smalley, RE, unpublished results. of Figure 1 reveal that C „La complexes are also highly stable—particularly C60La—just as would be expected if these C „species surround the metal atom much as an egg (shell) surrounds its yoke. Such aromatic “egg shell” complexes of metal atoms may be stable enoughto survive in normal condensed-phase chemical environments. If so, they would provide interesting starting materials for new classes of compounds, reagents, and catalysts.

Acknowledgment. This research was supported by the US Army Research Office and theRobert A. Welch Foundation and used a laser and molecular beam apparatus supported by the National Science Foundation and the US Departmentof Energy. HWK thanks the SERC (UK) for support.