Pulsed dye laser photolysis of Cr(CO)6

Once spectra of Cr(CO)5 have successfully been reproduced, the formation mechanism of Cr(CO)5L could be determined. Addition of known gaseous coordinating ligands, L, allow determination of reaction rates of Cr(CO)5 with L at various temperatures and pressures. The ligand L can range from weakly coordinating Argon to strongly coordinating PF3. Those Cr(CO)5L complexes with spectra differing from Cr(CO)5 and Cr(CO)6 allow the determination of their formation mechanisms.