The primary photoproducts of Mn2(CO)10: direct i.r. observation and decay kinetics of Mn(CO)5 and Mn2(CO)9 in hydrocarbon solution at room temperature

Time-resolved i.r. spectroscopy is used to show that Mn(CO)5 and CO-bridged Mn2(CO)9 are the primary photoproducts of Mn2(CO)10 in hydrocarbon silution; 2Mn(CO)5→ Mn2(CO)10 and Mn2(CO)9+ CO → Mn2(CO)10 are established as the recombination processes.