Abstract
AT various times1 doubt has been expressed as to the authenticity of iron enneacarbonyl, Fe2(CO)9, owing to its low solubility in all solvents and apparent lack of volatility. We have therefore carried out an investigation of this carbonyl, which was made by exposing iron pentacarbonyl, sealed under high vacuum in ‘Pyrex’ vessels, to sunlight; tri-iron dodecacarbonyl, which also formed in small amounts1, was removed by repeated washings with petrol ether. A series of analyses on different samples of iron enneacarbonyl clearly indicates that the empirical formula is Fe2(CO)9. (Found (per cent): carbon, 29.9, 29.7, 30.2, 29.6; oxygen, 39.2, 38.0, 39.4. Calculated (per cent) for C9O9Fe2: carbon, 29.7; oxygen 39.6.)
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
See, for example Abel, E. W., Quart. Rev., 17, 133 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CHISHOLM, M., MASSEY, A. & THOMPSON, N. Iron Enneacarbonyl. Nature 211, 67 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/211067a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/211067a0
This article is cited by
-
Basic mechanisms in laser etching and deposition
Applied Physics A Solids and Surfaces (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.