Surface-supported metal carbonyl clusters: formation of [HFe3(CO)11]– by interaction of Fe3(CO)12 and Fe(CO)5 with alumina and magnesia

Abstract

Interaction of Fe₃(CO)₁₂ and Fe(CO)₅ with the surface of alumina and magnesia results in the formation of the anionic hydrido cluster carbonyl [HFe₃(CO)₁₁]^– M⁺, M⁺= Al(O–)_X⁺ or Mg(O–)_y⁺, which indicates the basic character of the hydroxy-group of alumina and magnesia towards Fe(CO)₅ and Fe₃(CO)₁₂; the easy formation of [HFe₃(CO)₁₁]^–M⁺ may also account for the same selectivities for formation of low molecular weight olefins observed in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis whether starting from Fe(CO)₅ or from Fe₃(CO)₁₂ adsorbed on alumina or magnesia.