Photoelectron spectroscopic study of metal trifluorophosphine and hydridotrifluorophosphine complexes

Abstract

Photoelectron spectra of the complexes [M(PF₃)₆](M = Cr, Mo, and W), [M(PF₃)₅](M = Fe and Ru), [HM(PF₃)₄](M = Co,Rh, and Ir), and [HMn(PF₃)₅] are presented. Spectra are assigned by analogy with those of PF₃ and the corresponding metal carbonyl complexes. It is concluded that: (i) PF₃ has a greater overall electron-withdrawing effect than CO; (ii)d-orbital ionisation potentials generally increase across a series and down a vertical group; (iii) metal–phosphorus σ bonding increases across a series and down a vertical group; and (iv) the degree of π bonding is not readily ascertained from the p.e. spectra.