DINITROGEN ADDITION TO C-C5H5FE-PHASE(, C6H6FE+ AND FEO+ IN THE GAS)

Results of an experimental study using the selection-ion flow tube tec hnique are reported for reactions of bare Fe+ and iron containing FeX( +) cations (X = C6H6 (or B), c-C5H5 (or Cp), O, (Cp)(2), B-2) with din itrogen at 294 +/- 3 K and at a helium buffer-gas pressure of 0.35 +/- 0.01 Torr. Fe+, B2Fe+ and Cp(2)Fe(+) do not react with dinitrogen. A very slow sequential addition of two N-2 molecules was observed with F eO+. CpFe(+) and BFe+ reacted without the subsequent addition of a sec ond N-2 molecule. These results provide insight into the bonding of N- 2 as a ligand with Fe as the coordination centre in the gas-phase, and into intrinsic kinetic aspects of dinitrogen addition.