Wavelength-dependent photofragmentation of a mixed-ligand cyclometalated Platinum(II) coordination compound in a molecular beam

The photofragmentation of (3-Me-4',6'-dfppy)Pt(dpm) (dfppy = difluorophenylpyridinato; dpm = dipivaloylmethyl or 2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato-O,O) in a molecular beam is reported. Time-of-flight mass spectra (TOF-MS) and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) data are presented and discussed. The dissociation patterns are strongly wavelength-dependent. With 355 nm excitation, the heaviest mass platinum-containing fragments are Pt+ and diatomic PtC+. The formation of PtC+ is the result of an intramolecular rearrangement on the ligand. During irradiation with 410-500 nm light, the fragmentation pattern changes such that the parent ion and platinum-containing fragments of the parent are formed in abundant yield. The (3-Me-4',6'-dfppy) ligand remains intact and coordinated to platinum, but coordinated (dpm) successively breaks apart. A spin-forbidden charge-transfer absorption band centered at around 460 nm plays an important role in the gas-phase photoexcitation of the parent molecule; it is observed in the REMPI spectrum of the parent ion.