The crystal structure of W(CO)5piperidine: Implications for photoreactivity of W(CO)5L complexes
The X-ray crystal structure of W(CO)5piperidine is reported and assignments are given for the LF and CT band of W(CO)5piperidine and W(CO)5pyridine. The [Formula: see text](axial), and [Formula: see text] (equatorial) bond lengths for W(CO)5pip are 2.330(5), 1,963(6), and 2.04(7), respectively. The longer [Formula: see text] bond length in W(CO)5pip compared to W(CO)5pyr corresponds to greater photoreactivity observed under LF triplet excitation for W(CO)5pip but cannot account for the reverse trend observed under LF singlet irradiation. The structure also fails to support a model based on differences in π back donation from W. It is concluded that differences between singlet and triplet photoreaction originate in the relative rates of radiationless decay. Key words: W(CO)5piperidine, photoreactivity, crystal structure.