Abstract:
In order to investigate the use of Fast Atom
Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FAB-MS) as a tool for
structural characterization, two groups of complexes are
analyzed. The first group is a set of ruthenium(II)
coordination complexes containing bidentate polypyridyl
ligands. The positive and negative ion FAB-MS spectra are
found to be sufficient to allow for an almost complete
characterization of the central metal atom, the ligands and
the counter anions contained in the intact complex. An
unusual observation of mUltiply charged ions in the positive
ion FAB-MS spectra (i.e. [RUL 3 ]2+) is explained to be as a
result of the oxidative quenching of the excited state of
the doubly charged ion by the matrix, 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol.
An analysis of a mixture shows that the technique is a good
one for identifying components therein.
A group of triptycene and related complexes
containing Group V elements is also analyzed by FAB-MS and
the results. in terms of relative abundances of fragment
ions, are found to be consistent with known metal-carbon
bond strengths.
