A study of the soft X-ray photoreduction of [NiIV(S2CNEt2)3][BF4] and soft X-ray photoisomerisation of [PPh4][NiII(S2COEt)3] at the Ni L-edge†

Abstract

A detailed study of the soft X-ray photochemistry occurring in some nickel dithiocarbamate and xanthate complexes has shown that soft X-ray induced photoreduction of [Ni^IV(S₂CNEt₂)₃][BF₄] results in a Ni^II square-planar species and the rate is dependent on photon flux, photon energy and ligand set, but is essentially independent of temperature. Also, it has been demonstrated that [PPh₄][Ni^II(S₂COEt)₃] is photoisomerised to a Ni^II square-planar species on exposure to soft X-rays. The implication for experiments on third generation synchrotron sources is discussed briefly.