‘Non-classical’ dihydrogen complexes of vanadium: the spectroscopic characterization of [(η5-C5H5)V(CO)3(H2)] in solution at both cryogenic and room temperatures

Abstract

UV photolysis of [cpV(CO)₄](cp =η⁵-C₅H₅) and H₂ provides IR evidence for the formation of [cpV(CO)₃(η²-H₂)] both in n-heptane solution at 25 °C and in liquid xenon solution at –78°C, where the ν(H–H) IR band of co-ordinated dihydrogen (and its HD isotopomer) can be observed; time-resolved IR (TRIR) studies provide information about the reactivity of these species at room temperature.