TIME-RESOLVED INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY AS A TECHNIQUE TO STUDY REACTIVE ORGANOMETALLIC INTERMEDIATES

The application of time resolved infrared spectroscopy to problems in organometallic chemistry is discussed and an overview of different tec hniques to record TRIR spectra ranging from mu s to fs time scales is presented. More detailed examples of TRIR applications in organometall ic chemistry from the authors' laboratory are summarized. These are co ncerned with elucidating the natures and reaction dynamics of intermed iates in the migratory insertion of CO into the metal-alkyl bonds of m anganese and cobalt carbonyls and of cyclopentadienyl iron complexes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.