The investigation of some chemical problems by Raman spectroscopy

• Main Author: Edwards, Howell G. M.
• Published: University of Oxford 1968
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.732001

The work described is concerned with the vibrational spectra of (a) compounds containing phosphorus trifluoride and related ligands, and (b) highly-coloured halogen compounds of transition metals. Despite extensive research into compounds of phosphorus trifluoride very little is known about the vibrational spectra of these compounds. To date, the only compound of phosphorus trifluoride to have its Raman spectrum characterised is tetrakistrifluorophosphinenickel, Ni(PF₃)₄, studied in the Oxford Laboratory by L.A.Woodward and J.R.Hall. Infra-red work on similar compounds has been incomplete and normally only the phosphorus-fluorine stretching vibrations have been recorded. A testing of the predictions of much theoretical discussion on the bonding in such zerovalent metal-trifluorophosphines may be afforded by a spectroscopic examination of a series of M(PF₃)₄ compounds.