Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of iron nitrosyl cation complexes: Fe(NO)n⁺ (n = 1-5)

Probing the binding and activation of small molecules by gas-phase transition metal clusters via IR spectroscopy

Isolated transition metal clusters have been established as useful models for extended metal surfaces or deposited metal particles, to improve the understanding of their surface chemistry and of catalytic reactions. For this objective, an important milestone has been the development of experimental methods for the size-specific structural characterization of clusters and cluster complexes in the gas phase. This review focusses on the characterization of molecular ligands, their binding and activation by small transition metal clusters, using cluster-size specific infrared action spectroscopy. A comprehensive overview and a critical discussion of the experimental data available to date is provided, reaching from the initial results obtained using line-tuneable CO₂ lasers to present-day studies applying infrared free electron lasers as well as other intense and broadly tuneable IR laser sources.

An Infrared Study of Gas-Phase Metal Nitrosyl Ion-Molecule Complexes

We present a combined experimental and quantum chemical study of gas-phase group 9 metal nitrosyl complexes, M(NO)_n⁺ (M = Co, Rh, Ir). Experimental infrared photodissociation spectra of mass-selected ion-molecule complexes are presented in the region 1600 cm^-1 to 2000 cm^-1 which includes the NO stretch. These are interpreted by comparison with the simulated spectra of energetically low-lying structures calculated using density functional theory. A mix of linear and nonlinear ligand binding is observed, often within the same complex, and clear evidence of coordination shell closing is observed at n = 4 for Co(NO)_n⁺ and Ir(NO)_n⁺. Calculations of Rh(NO)_n⁺ complexes suggest additional low-lying five-coordinate structures. In all cases, once a second coordination shell is occupied, new spectral features appear which are assigned to (NO)₂ dimer moieties. Further evidence of such motifs comes from differences in the spectra recorded in the dissociation channels corresponding to single and double ligand loss.

Identification of a Two‐Coordinate Iron(I)–Oxalate Complex

Exotic oxidation states of the first‐row transition metals have recently attracted much interest. In order to investigate the oxidation states of a series of iron–oxalate complexes, an aqueous solution of iron(III) nitrate and oxalic acid was studied by infrared free liquid matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization as well as ionspray mass spectrometry. Here, we show that iron is not only detected in its common oxidation states +II and +III, but also in its unusual oxidation state +I, detectable in both positive‐ion and in negative‐ion modes, respectively. Vibrational spectra of the gas phase anionic iron oxalate complexes [Fe^III(C₂O₄)₂]⁻, [Fe^II(C₂O₄)CO₂]⁻, and [Fe^I(C₂O₄)]⁻ were measured by means of infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and their structures were assigned by comparison to anharmonic vibrational spectra based on second‐order perturbation theory.

Reaction of nitric oxide molecules on transition-metal-doped silver cluster cations: size- and dopant-dependent reaction pathways

We report size- and dopant-dependent reaction pathways as well as reactivity of gas-phase free Ag_nM⁺ (M = Sc-Ni) clusters interacting with NO. The reactivity of Ag_nM⁺, except for M = Cr and Mn, exhibits a minimum at a specific size, where the cluster cation possesses 18 or 20 valence electrons consisting of Ag 5s and dopant's 3d and 4s. The product ions range from NO adducts, Ag_nM(NO)_m⁺, and oxygen adducts, Ag_nMO_m⁺, to NO₂ adducts, Ag_nM(NO₂)_m⁺. At small sizes, Ag_nMO_m⁺ are the major products for M = Sc-V, whereas Ag_nM(NO)_m⁺ dominate the products for M = Cr-Ni in striking contrast. In both cases, these reaction products are reminiscent of those from an atomic transition metal. However, the reaction pathways are different at least for M = Sc and Ti; kinetics measurements reveal that the present oxygen adducts are formed via NO adducts, while, for example, Ti⁺ is known to produce TiO⁺ directly by reaction with a single NO molecule. At larger sizes, on the other hand, Ag_nM(NO₂)_m⁺ are dominantly produced regardless of the dopant element because the dopant atom is encapsulated by the Ag host; the NO₂ formation on the cluster is similar to that reported for undoped Ag_n⁺.

Co-Adsorption of O2 and CO on Au2- : Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopy and Theoretical Study of [Au2 O2 (CO)n ]- (n=2-6)

The co-adsorption of O₂ and CO on anionic sites of gold species is considered as a crucial step in the catalytic CO oxidation on gold catalysts. In this regard, the [Au₂ O₂ (CO)_n ]^- (n=2-6) complexes were prepared by using a laser vaporization supersonic ion source and were studied by using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the gas phase. All the [Au₂ O₂ (CO)_n ]^- (n=2-6) complexes were characterized to have a core structure involving one CO and one O₂ molecule co-adsorbed on Au₂^- with the other CO molecules physically tagged around. The CO stretching frequency of the [Au₂ O₂ (CO)]^- core ion is observed around ν˜ =2032-2042 cm^-1 , which is about 200 cm^-1 higher than that in [Au₂ (CO)₂ ]^- . This frequency difference and the analyses based on density functional calculations provide direct evidence for the synergy effect of the chemically adsorbed O₂ and CO. The low lying structures with carbonate group were not observed experimentally because of high formation barriers. The structures and the stability (i.e., the inertness in a sense) of the co-adsorbed O₂ and CO on Au₂^- may have relevance to the elementary reaction steps on real gold catalysts.

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of mass-selected silver and gold nitrosyl cation complexes

The [M(NO)n](+) cation complexes (M = Au and Ag) are studied for exploring the coordination and bonding between nitric oxide and noble metal cations. These species are produced in a laser vaporization supersonic ion source and probed by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the NO stretching frequency region using a collinear tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The geometric and electronic structures of these complexes are determined by comparison of the distinctive experimental spectra with simulated spectra derived from density functional theory calculations. All of these noble metal nitrosyl cation complexes are characterized to have bent NO ligands serving as one-electron donors. The spectrum of [Au(NO)2Ar](+) is consistent with 2-fold coordination with a near linear N-Au-N arrangement for this ion. The [Au(NO)n](+) (n = 3-4) cations are determined to be a mixture of 2-fold coordinated form and 3- or 4-fold coordinated form. In contrast, the spectra of [Ag(NO)n](+) (n = 3-6) provide evidence for the completion of the first coordination shell at n = 5. The high [Au(NO)n](+) and [Ag(NO)n](+) (n ≥ 3 for Au, n ≥ 4 for Ag) complexes each involve one or more (NO)2 dimer ligands, as observed in the copper nitrosyl cation complexes, indicating that ligand-ligand coupling plays an important role in the structure and bonding of noble metal nitrosyl cation complexes.