Solvent-trapping of active species in the photolysis of manganese carbonyl

Abstract

Photopolymerization of a vinyl monomer initiated by manganese carbonyl in association with ethyl trichloroacetate is followed by a prolonged after-effect if a suitable solvent is present, e.g., acetylacetone or cyclohexanone; the observations are consistent with unsymmetric fission of Mn₂(CO)₁₀ on photolysis, and subsequent reaction of one fragment [Mn(CO)₆] with solvent to give a species of relatively long life which generates radicals by reaction with the halide.