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Title: Vibrational fine structure in the valence ionizations of transition-metal hexacarbonyls: new experimental indication of metal-to-carbonyl. pi. bonding

Journal Article · · J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00372a008· OSTI ID:5041582

The first observations of metal-carbon vibrational structure in photoionization bands are reported. Attention is focused on the predominantly metal d ionizations of M(CO)/sub 6/ (M = Cr, Mo, and W), and the methods for obtaining high resolution and very high signal-to-noise He I ionization data are detailed. The /sup 2/T/sub 2g/ ionization band of Cr(CO)/sub 6/ and the spin-orbit split /sup 2/E'' and /sup 2/U' bands of W(CO)/sub 6/ show distinct vibrational progressions which correspond to the totally symmetric (a/sub 1g/) metal-carbon stretching mode in the positive ion states. The metal-carbon stretching frequencies are found to be significantly less in the positive ion states than in the ground states, indicating a reduction of metal-carbon bond order upon the loss of a t/sub 2g/ electron. Evaluation of the vibrational progressions shows that the metal-carbon bond length increases on the order of 0.10 A upon t/sub 2g/ ionization in the case of W(CO)/sub 6/ and about 0.14 A in the case of Cr(CO)/sub 6/. In addition, the beginning of a short progression in the a/sub 1g/ carbon-oxygen stretching mode is observed in the Mo(CO)/sub 6/ spectrum and is clearly seen in the W(CO)/sub 6/ spectrum. All of these observations show that removal of an electron from the predominantly metal t/sub 2g/ orbitals, which are strictly ..pi.. symmetry with respect to the carbonyls, substantially weakens the metal-to-carbonyl bond. 9 figures, 2 tables.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
OSTI ID:
5041582
Journal Information:
J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 104:8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English