Surface-supported metal carbonyl clusters: Formation of [HFe3(CO)11] interaction of Fe3(CO)12 and Fe(CO)5 with alumina and magnesia

Abstract

Interaction of Fe3(CO)12 and Fe(CO)5 with the surface of alumina and magnesia results in the formation of the anionic hydrido cluster carbonyl [HFe3(CO)11]- M+, M+ = A1(O-)x+ or Mg(O-)y+, which indicates the basic character of the hydroxy-group of alumina and magnesia towards Fe(CO)5 and Fe3(CO)12; the easy formation of [HFe3(CO)11]-M+ may also account for the same selectivities for formation of low molecular weight olefins observed in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis whether starting from Fe(CO)5 or from Fe3(CO)12 adsorbed on alumina or magnesia. © 1980, The Royal Society of Chemistry. All rights reserved.