Photo-oxidation of [Re2(CO)10] in low-temperature matrices containing O2
Abstract
Photo-oxidation of [Re2(CO)10] isolated in low-temperature matrices containing O2 generates, alongside free CO and CO2, the binary oxide Re2O7. The reaction appears to be initiated by Re–Re bond cleavage and proceeds via at least two detectable oxorhenium carbonyl species. Infrared spectroscopic studies, including isotopic substitution with 18O and 13C, suggest that these intermediates are most likely to be (OC)5Re–O–O–Re(CO)5 and ORe(CO)5.