Conformational studies of EPh3M(CO)5 complexes (E  P, As or Sb; M  Cr, Mo or W)

Abstract

Studies are reported of the electro-optical Kerr effect, electric dipole moments and IR carbonyl stretching frequencies of the nine EPh3(CO)5 complexes (E  P, As or Sb and M  Cr, Mo or W). The experimental results are applied in conjunction with molecular mechanics calculations and data from X-ray crystal structure analysis, to explore the stereostructural preferences of the EPh3M(CO)5 molecules with regard to orientations about the ME bond and phenyl group rotations about ECar. Evidence is drawn together and compared for EPh3M(CO)5 in the solution and solid states and as isolated molecules. It is found that for all states, phenyl ring dispositions of like helicity are favoured for the coordinated EPh3 ligands in these complexes.