PHOTOOXIDATION REACTIONS OF TRANSITION-METAL CARBONYLS IN LOW-TEMPERATURE MATRICES

This article considers the photochemical reactions in low-temperature matrices in which transition metal carbonyls are oxidized. Typically the oxidant is dioxygen and the reactions proceed via oxocarbonyl intermediates (in which both CO and oxygen, in one form or another, are co-ordinated to the metal centre) to yield ultimately molecular metal oxides. Techniques for characterizing such species by infrared spectroscopy are discussed. The use of oxidants other than dioxygen and the oxidation of species other than binary carbonyls are mentioned.