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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Thermochemical Studies of Ni(II) and Zn(II) Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Thermochemical Studies of Ni(II) and Zn(II) Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Published on: June 8, 2022

Multiple photochemical reaction pathways in a Ni(II) coordination compound.

Franklin P Ow¹, Bryana L Henderson, Jeffrey I Zink

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.

Inorganic Chemistry

|February 13, 2007

Summary

Gas-phase photofragmentation of a nickel(II) compound reveals specific fragmentation of N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine ligands while coordinated to nickel. Unexpected NiF+ formation was also observed, despite the absence of nickel-fluorine bonds in the original molecule.

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Published on: November 21, 2017

Area of Science:

Coordination Chemistry
Gas-Phase Photochemistry
Mass Spectrometry

Background:

Metal-containing compounds are typically studied for metal-ligand bond fragmentation.
Gas-phase studies often focus on the dissociation of weaker bonds.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the gas-phase photofragmentation of trans-bis(trifluoroacetato)bis(N,N"-dimethylethylenediamine)nickel(II) (Ni(tfa)2(dmen)2).
To analyze the fragmentation patterns of coordinated ligands using time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Main Methods:

Gas-phase photofragmentation experiments.
Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) detection.
Analysis of fragmentation products of Ni(tfa)2(dmen)2.

Main Results:

N,N -dimethylethylenediamine (dmen) ligands fragment while remaining coordinated to the nickel center.
Specific formation of mono- and diimine species coordinated to nickel.
Observation of uncoordinated imine species and small dmen fragments.
Consistent detection of NiF+ fragment, indicating fluorine abstraction without direct Ni-F bonds.

Conclusions:

Ligand fragmentation can occur specifically while coordinated to a metal center in the gas phase.
The observed NiF+ formation suggests novel reaction pathways, possibly involving trifluoroacetate ligands.
Photofragmentation of Ni(tfa)2(dmen)2 provides unique insights into gas-phase coordination chemistry.