Gas-phase ligand exchange of select transition-metal acetylacetonate and hexafluoroacetylacetonate complexes.

Gas-phase ligand exchange reactions between M(acac)(2) and M(hfac)(2) species, where M is Cu(II) and/or Ni(II), were observed to occur in a double-focusing reverse-geometry magnetic sector mass spectrometer. The gas-phase mixed ligand product, M(acac)(hfac), was formed following the co-sublimation of either homo-metal or hetero-metal precursors. The gas-phase formation of Cu(acac)(hfac) from hetero-metal precursors is reported herein for the first time. The Ni(acac)(hfac) complex is also observed for the first time to form following the co-sublimation of not only Ni precursors, but also from separate Ni and Cu precursors. The corresponding fragmentation patterns of these species are also presented, and the mixed metal mixed ligand product NiCu(acac)(2)(hfac) is observed.