Soluble fullerenes were produced with a somewhat unexpectedly high yield (10(-2) wt% of the evaporated carbons) by laser ablation of graphite in a 'room-temperature' argon gas flow. The high yield was likely due to the high temperature of the graphite after heating by the ablation laser. Laser ablation experiments using argon-diluted propane gas showed that fullerene formation was strongly inhibited by the addition of propane, while the formation of hydrogen-terminated, chain-form carbon molecules (polyynes) was enhanced. The reactivities of the fullerene precursors and chain-form carbon clusters are discussed based on the anticorrelation of the yields of fullerenes and polyynes. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.