PECULIARITIES OF DISSOCIATIVE IONIZATION OF ALKYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL NITROSYL PI-COMPLEXES OF NICKEL

The decomposition of alkylcyclopentadienyl nitrosyl pi-complexes of ni ckel, (C5H4R)(NO)Ni (R = H, Et, i-Pr, CH2Ph), under the action of elec tron impact has been studied. The nature of the nitrosyl ligand has be en shown to be the factor determining the main fragmentation pathway w hich involves the abstraction of an NO molecule. The effect of the nat ure of the ligand on the ability of the molecular ion (C5H4R)LNi+ (L = C5H4R, C5H5, C3H5, NO) to rearrange with hydrogen atom migration from one ligand to another has been considered. The structure of the alkyl group R determines a competing fragmentation pathway involving cleava ge of the beta-C-C bond with respect to the cyclopentadienyl ring in t he substituent.