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

• Main Authors: Florence M. Nareetsile, N.J. Coville
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chemical Society of Ethiopia 2011-08-01
• Series: Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia
• Subjects: Solventless reactions; Molybdenum; Isomerisation; Thermal analysis
• Online Access: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/bcse/article/view/65884
• ISSN: 1011-3924; 1726-801X

Thermal analysis of <i>cis</i>-Mo(CO)₄L₂ [L= PPh₂Et, PPh₃, PPh₂Me and P(<i>m</i>-tolyl)₃] revealed that they undergo <i>cis</i> to <i>trans</i> isomerisation under solventless conditions. For L = PPh₃ and P(<i>m</i>-tolyl)₃, the reaction occurred in the solid state. For L = PPh₂Et and PPh₂Me the reaction occurred in the melt and was followed by <i>trans</i> isomer solidification. The rate of the solid state isomerisation of <i>cis</i>-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 <i>cis</i>-Mo(CO)4[P(<i>m</i>-tolyl)₃]₂ revealed that the isomerisation was surface-initiated.