PHOTODISSOCIATION OF CU2NH3 AND AG2NH3

We report on the reactions of copper and silver dimers with ammonia in the gas phase near room temperature and on photodissociation of the 1 :1 complexes. Photodissociation action spectra in the range 295-360 nm and emission spectra of metal dimers produced by photodissociation ar e described. The binding energies of NH3 on Cu-2 and Ag-2 have been de termined, and spectroscopic data and theoretical results have been use d to infer a quasi-linear or end-on coordination geometry for the comp lexes. A simple picture of the bonding mechanism is presented, and com parisons are made with ammonia adsorbed on copper and silver atoms and bulk surfaces.