Carbon clusters, such as C.sub.60 and C.sub.70 fullerenes are separated by means of a recognition selector having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 is O, S or NR.sub.12 wherein R.sub.12 is independently hydrogen or P.dbd.O with the proviso that when R.sub.12 is P.dbd.O, then only one such group is present and all R.sub.2 's are additionally bonded to R.sub.12,R.sub.4 is independently O, S or NH,R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 are each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl,n and o are each independently zero, 1, 2 or 3,p, q, r, s and t are each independently zero or 1,Ar is a monocyclic or ortho-fused polycyclic aromatic moiety having up to 10 carbon atoms, either of which may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more lower alkyl, NO.sub.2, N(R.sub.6).sub.3.sup.+, CN, COOR.sub.7, SO.sub.3 H, COR.sub.8 and OR.sub.9 wherein R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl;W is H or CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ; andm is 1 to 10.