Evidence for Cobalt-Cobalt Bond Homolysis and Wavelength-Dependent CO Loss in (μ2-Alkyne)Co2(CO)6 Complexes

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy was used to probe the photochemistry of three (mu(2)-alkyne)Co-2(CO)(6) complexes. The data indicate the formation of a triplet diradical species, with lifetimes in the range 38-71 ps. Theoretical calculations support these experimental findings. No evidence for the CO loss species, (mu(2)-alkyne)Co-2(CO)(5), was observed, and this is rationalized by the low quantum yield for this process at the excitation wavelengths used.