Investigation of the solvent free isomerisation of cis-Mo(CO)4L2 [L = PPh2Et, PPh3, PPh2Me, and P(m-tolyl)3] by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform

  • Florence M. Nareetsile Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, P/bag UB704, Gaborone, Botswana
  • N.J. Coville Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
DOI: 10.4314/bcse.v25i2.65884
Keywords: Solventless reactions, Molybdenum, Isomerisation, Thermal analysis

Abstract

Thermal analysis of cis-Mo(CO)4L2 [L= PPh2Et, PPh3, PPh2Me and P(m-tolyl)3] revealed that they undergo cis to trans isomerisation under solventless conditions. For L = PPh3 and P(m-tolyl)3, the reaction occurred in the solid state. For L = PPh2Et and PPh2Me the reaction occurred in the melt and was followed by trans isomer solidification. The rate of the solid state isomerisation of cis-Mo(CO)4 (PPh3)2 was investigated by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and the results showed that the reaction was first order. A thermomicroscopic investigation of cis-Mo(CO)4[P(m-tolyl)3]2 revealed that the isomerisation was surface-initiated.

KEY WORDS: Solventless reactions, Molybdenum, Isomerisation, Thermal analysis

 

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2011, 25(2), 209-220.

Issue
Vol. 25 No. 2 (2011)
Section
Articles

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1726-801X
print ISSN: 1011-3924