ULTRAVIOLET MULTIPHOTON DISSOCIATION OF GROUP VIB HEXACARBONYLS AND DERIVATIVES: EVIDENCE FOR DIRECT AND SEQUENTIAL DISSOCIATION PATHWAYS.

The authors have examined excimer laser (ArF*, KrF*, and XeF*) multiphoton dissociation of Cr(CO)//6, Mo(CO)//6, W(CO)//6, C//6H//6Cr(CO)//3, and (C//6H//6)//2Cr to gain some insight into the mechanisms for metal atom formation. Evidence has been obtained for two distinct dissociation processes: (1) a direct process, where the metal complex is excited into a dissociative continuum forming the metal atom directly; and (2) a sequential process, involving an intermediate photoproduct that undergoes further photodissociation to yield the metal atom.