The metal–ligand bond in tropolone complexes of aluminium and silicon. A study based on X-ray emission and X-ray photoelectron spectra

Abstract

X-Ray photoelectron and X-ray emission (Al-K_β1,3, Si-K_β1,3, O-K_α) spectra from the tris(‘tropolonate’) complexes [Al(C₇H₅O₂)₃] and [Si(C₇H₅O₂)₃][PF₆] have been measured. These spectra show that the bond between the ligand and aluminium or silicon has both σ and π components. This observation is rationalised using simple molecular orbital theory.