Photochemistry of [CpMo(CO)3]2 (Cp = η5-C5H5) and [Cp*Fe(CO)2]2 (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) in supercritical CO2: A fast time-resolved infrared spectroscopic study

Xue Z. Sun, Sergei M. Nikiforov, Alain Dedieu, Michael W. George

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fast (ns) time-resolved infrared spectroscopy has been used to follow the visible (532 nm) flash photolysis of trans-[CpMo(CO)3]2 (Cp = η5-C5H5) in supercritical CO2 (scCO2) (35°C, 2100 psi). The primary photoproduct observed on this time scale is the CpMo(CO)3 radical, which dimerizes to form both trans- and gauche-[CpMo(CO)3]2. The dimerization of CpMo(CO)3 has been monitored as a function of pressure, and the estimated rate constant is slightly below the expected diffusion-controlled limit. The rate constant (2k2) decreases from 3.9 × 1010 to 9.9 × 109 M-1 s-1 as the pressure is increased from 79 to 213 bar. CpMo(CO)3 displays three ν(CO) bands in scCO2, compared to two ν(CO) bands in n-heptane solution and supercritical Xe (scXe), indicating that the radicals are interacting with CO2. We find that gauche-[CpMo(CO)3]2 decays (kobs = 3 (± 0.5) × 102 s-1) to the more stable trans isomer at similar rates in scCO2 and n-heptane solution. Visible photolysis (532 nm) of [Cp*Fe(CO)2]2 (Cp* = η5-C5Me5) in scCO2 generates Cp*Fe(CO)2 radicals which dimerize (2k2 = 9.7 (±0.3) M-1 s-1) to form both cis-[Cp*Fe(CO)2]2 and trans-[Cp*Fe(CO)2]2. We observed no spectroscopic evidence for the interaction of Cp*Fe(CO)2 with CO2, but the recombination of Cp*Fe(CO)2 in scCO2 is lower than the expected diffusion-controlled rate calculated using the Stokes-Einstein equation, which may indicate a radical-CO2 interaction. With increasing pressure, the rate constant for the dimerization of Cp*Fe(CO)2 radicals decreases from 3.0 × 1010 M-1 s-1 at 83 bar to 9.7 × 109 M-1 s-1 at 178 bar.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1515-1520
Number of pages6
JournalOrganometallics
Volume20
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Apr 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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