Electrospray mass spectrometric studies of some heterometal anionic carbonyl clusters

Abstract

Electrospray mass spectra (ESMS) are reported for a series of anionic transition-metal clusters of the type (PPh 4)[Fe 3(CO) 10(μ-CO){μ-Hg(m)}] (m = Mo(CO) 3Cp; Co(CO) 4; Fe(CO) 2Cp; W(CO) 3Cp; Mn(CO) 5) and also for the species of higher nuclearity (NEt 4)[Fe 6C(CO) 16AuPPh 3] in methanol solution. The results were compared with those obtained by FAB-MS, and they indicate that ESMS is the most appropriate technique by which to obtain control fragmentation. Information about the strength of the different metal-metal bonds present in the cluster can be deduced from the species generated.