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<b>Investigation of the solvent free isomerisation of <i>cis</i>-Mo(CO)<sub>4</sub>L<sub>2</sub> [L = PPh<sub>2</sub>Et, PPh<sub>3</sub>, PPh<sub>2</sub>Me, and P(<i>m</i>-tolyl)<sub>3</sub>] by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform </b>


Florence M. Nareetsile
N.J. Coville

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.


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