Chemistry of polynuclear compounds. Part VII. The mass spectra of some polynuclear metal carbonyl complexes

The mass spectra of the carbonyls Mn2(CO)10, Re2(CO)10, Fe3(CO)12, and Ru3(CO)12 are reported and discussed in terms of the structures. The presence of the species Fe(CO)5+ in the spectrum of iron dodecacarbonyl favours a bridging carbonyl structure. The spectra of a series of mononuclear phosphine-carbonyl complexes of molybdenum and tungsten, and halogen-carbonyl complexes of manganese have been studied to establish the fragmentation pattern of these compounds. Preferential loss of carbon monoxide occurs from the phosphine complexes, whilst for the halogen-carbonyl either halogen or carbonyl groups may be lost. In contrast, for the binuclear halogen-carbonyls of manganese, primary loss of carbon monoxide occurs. The mass spectra of a series of phosphine-manganese tetracarbonyl complexes and the compounds [C5H5Mo(CO)3]2, [C5H5Fe(CO)2]2, Ph3SnMn(CO)5, Ph3SnFe(CO)4, Ph3SnFe(C5H5)(CO)2, Cl2Sn[Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]2, and Hg[Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]2 are also reported.