Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy And Density Functional Theory Study Of Weak Interactions Of Metal Carbonyls And Organic Solvents, Carolyn Evans Sheffield

Theses and Dissertations

Pulsed laser flash photolysis of M(CO)6 (M = Cr, W) in cyclohexane with a small amount of benzene results in three sequential reactions. The first is the photodissociation of the parent to yield a M(CO)5:C6H12 complex, which takes place faster than the time resolution of our experiments. The second reaction is the replacement of the cyclohexane ligand with benzene to form a M(CO)5:C6H6 complex, in which benzene is coordinated to the metal via one side of the ring. This complex then falls apart in solution as M(CO)5 coordinates with a trace impurity in the solution that is likely water. Kinetic …