Novel mixed ligand sandwich complexes: competitive binding of iron with benzene, coronene, and C 60

Abstract

Organometallic complexes of iron with benzene, coronene and C 60 are produced in a molecular beam and studied with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and laser photodissociation. The cation complexes are produced in a pulsed nozzle laser vaporization source using an iron rod coated with a sublimed film of coronene and/or C 60. Benzene is seeded in the expansion gas. Masses of the form [A x –Fe–B y ] + are observed when A and B are benzene, coronene, or C 60, taken any two at a time. Masses are observed for all combinations where x + y = 1 or 2, indicating the formation of monoligand and sandwich complexes. Mixed-ligand sandwiches form with comparable abundance to homoligand sandwiches. Mass-selected photodissociation probes the relative bonding strengths in these new species.