Photoelectron Velocity Map Imaging Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study of Heteronuclear MNi(CO)7 – (M = V, Nb, Ta)

A series of heteronuclear group 5 metal–nickel carbonyls MNi­(CO)7 – (M = V, Nb, Ta) have been generated via a laser ablation ion source and studied by photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed to probe the electronic and geometric structures and help to assign the spectra. The adiabatic detachment energies (ADEs) and vertical detachment energies (VDEs) are deduced from spectra to be 3.40/3.58, 3.34/3.55, 3.30/3.50 eV, which are consistent with quantum chemical computational results. The MNi­(CO)7 – (M = V, Nb, Ta) consists of three bridging carbonyls, one carbonyl terminally bonded to the Ni atom and three carbonyls terminally bonded to the M (M = V, Nb, Ta) atom. These geometries are different from homobinuclear Cr2(CO)7 +, Ni2(CO)7 +, Pd2(CO)7 +, and Fe2(CO)7 – and heterobinuclear CuFe­(CO)7 –, CoZn­(CO)7 +, and CO is largely activated by a bridging coordination mode. The experimental and theoretical results would provide important information to understand the chemisorbed CO molecules on alloy surfaces or interfaces, which is of great significance to elucidate CO molecule activation processes.