Fragmentation study of zirconocene and hafnocene dialcoholates containing trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane moieties

The electron ionisation mass spectrometric behaviour of a new series of haf nocene and zirconocene dialcoholates is discussed. Deprotonated moieties of borneol and fenchyl alcohol were used as a-ligands, These data are also co mpared to those of mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectroscopy of the mol ecular ions. Fragmentation patterns of the complexes in question give relev ant information on their gas-phase behaviour and also on the influence of t he ligand structure on the decomposition pathways. The complexes in questio n appear to be promising metal-organic chemical vapour decomposition precur sors, Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.