Phosphine photolabilisation studies of (eta(5)-C5H5)Fe(PPH3)(CO)-COR (R = Me, Ph, 2,6-C6B3F2) and (eta(5)-C5Me5)Fe(PPh3)(CO)-COR (R = Me, 2,6-C6H3F2)utilising NMR, laser desorption FT ICR MS and photofragmentation voltammetry analysis

Photolysis of (eta(5)-C5Me5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)COR (R = 2,6-C6H3F2Me) leads to pre ferential loss of the phosphine ligand to form the corresponding alkyl spec ies (eta(5)-C5Me5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)R, while photolysis of (eta(5)-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PP h3)COR (R = Me, Ph, 2,6-C6H3F2) leads to loss of CO to form (eta(5)-C5H5)Fe (CO)(PPh3)R which subsequently undergoes rapid phosphine exchange. A mechan ism for this process is proposed which is corroborated using photofragmenta tion voltammetry. Laser desorption mass spectrometry was also used as a too l to probe whether phosphine loss was the primary photochemical process.