Applications of Pulsed-Gradient Spin-Echo (PGSE) Diffusion Measurements in Organometallic Chemistry

Diffusion data from pulsed-field gradient spin-echo (PGSE) methods are shown to be qualitatively useful in the investigation of problems involving unknown molecular aggregation and/or the nature of inter-ionic interactions in metal complexes. For charged species possessing anions such as PF, BF, CF3SO or BArF−, both 19F- and 1H-PGSE methods offer a valid alternative and, sometimes, unique view of gross and subtle solution molecular structure and dynamics. Problems associated with solvents, concentration, and reproducibility are discussed.