Loss of carbon dioxide in the mass spectra of some partially fluorinated β‐diketonato iron chelates

Evidence suggesting elimination of carbon dioxide as a decomposition path for tris(1‐phenyl‐4,4,4‐trifluoro‐1,3‐butandionato) iron (III) [Fe(btac)3] and tris (1‐thienyl‐4,4,4‐trifluoro‐1,3, butandionato) iron (III) [Fe(ttac)3] is presented and discussed. A mechanism is proposed for this reaction. Other examples of CO2 elimination are observed for substituted phenyl Fe(btac)3, tris(1‐cyclopropyl‐4,4,4‐trifluoro‐1,3‐butandionato) iron (III) and Co(III) (btac)3.