Infrared spectra of aluminium carbonyl complexes in solid argon

Abstract

Infrared spectra of aluminium carbonyl complexes generated in argon matrices by co-condensation of aluminium atoms and carbon monoxide have been observed and analysed. AlCO, aluminium monocarbonyl, was isolated and clearly identified. It is characterized by a carbonyl force constant (Fco≈ 14 mdyn Å–1) markedly smaller than in Al(CO)2(15.5 mdyn Å–1), thus contradicting earlier studies concluding that an AlCO complex should be unbound or, at most, a weak van der Waals complex.