Synthesis process using photo-induced deligandation

Claim 2

A process for inducing a ligand substitution reaction in a gaseous compound comprising a transition metal and a first ligand, which comprises exposing the gaseous compound to optical radiation in the presence of a gaseous second ligand, said optical radiation having a wavelength in the range from about 150 nm to 2000 nm.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the transition metal is bound to the first ligand with a bond energy less than about 400 kJ/mole.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein the transition metal is bound to the first ligand with a bond energy less than about 200 kJ/mole.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the first ligand is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, nitrile; isonitrile, having 1-4 carbon atoms and optionally substituted by halogen, alkyl, straight chain or branched, having 1-4 carbon atoms and optionally substituted by halogen; alkoxy, having 1-4 carbon atoms and optionally substituted by halogen; alkenyl, straight chain or branched, having 1-4 carbon atoms and optionally substituted by halogen; mono- or di-unsaturated olefins, internal or terminal, having 1-4 carbon atoms and optionally substituted by halogen; cyclic di- and tri-olefins, having 1-7 carbon atoms; phenyl, optionally substituted by halogen; allyl, trifluorophosphine, carbon monoxide, ammonia, nitric oxide, nitrogen, and combinations thereof.

Claim 6

The process of claim 4 wherein the first ligand is selected from the group consisting of CO, NO, and combinations thereof.

Claim 7

The process of claim 5 wherein the first ligand is CO.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of group VIB and group VIII metals.

Claim 9

The process of claim 7 wherein the gaseous compound is Cr(CO) 6 .

Claim 10

The process of claim 7 wherein the gaseous compound is Fe(CO) 5 .

Claim 11

The process of claim 7 wherein the gaseous compound is Fe(CO) 2 (NO) 2 .

Claim 12

The process of claim 1 wherein the gaseous second ligand is selected from the group consisting of phosphines, PR 1 R 2 R 3 , wherein R 1 -R 3 are hydrogen, halogen, straight chain or branched alkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms, alkoxy having 1-3 carbon atoms; and combinations thereof; amines, NR 1 R 2 R 3 , where R 1 -R 3 are hydrogen, alkyl having 1 carbon atom, and combinations thereof; aromatics, C 6 R 6 , where each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, and fluorine; mono- or di-olefins, internal or terminal, straight chain or branched, having 1-6 carbon atoms and optionally substituted by halogen; cyclic mono-, di- or tri-olefins having 3-7 carbon atoms; alkynes, internal or terminal, having 1-6 carbon atoms, and optionally substituted by halogen; hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide.

Claim 13

The process of claim 11 wherein the gaseous second ligand is PF 3 .

Claim 14

The process of claim 1 wherein the optical radiation is provided by a pulsed source.

Claim 15

The process of claim 13 wherein the radiation fluence is chosen so that the probability of a molecule of the transition metal compound absorbing more than one photon from a single pulse is substantially less than one.

Claim 16

The process of claim 1 wherein the optical radiation is provided by a continuous source.

Claim 17

The process of claim 15 wherein the radiation intensity is chosen so that the probability of a fragment or intermediate generated from the transition metal compound absorbing a photon is sustantially less than one.

Claim 18

The process of claim 1 wherein the optical radiation is in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Claim 19

The process of claim 17 wherein the optical radiation is provided by a mercury arc lamp.

Claim 20

The process of claim 1 wherein the optical radiation is provided by a laser.

Claim 21

The process of claim 19 wherein the optical radiation is provided by a KrF laser.