Analysis of low oxidation state transition metal clusters by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A variety of homonuclear and heteronuclear transition metal carbonyl clusters have been analyzed by ultraviolet laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The spectra were recorded in negative and positive ion modes, using both linear and reflective techniques. A range of different clusters based on different nuclearities, geometries, and ligand types, which include hydrides, phosphines, nitriles, and cyclopentadienyl ligands and naked main group atoms, were studied. These experiments have allowed us to construct a detailed picture of the technique for the analysis of transition metal carbonyl clusters and their derivatives. In general, extensive reactions are observed, cluster aggregation reactions in particular, and from a comparison of the spectra obtained, some mechanistic inferences concerning the aggregation processes have been drawn.