Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution

Abstract Mechanistic insights into photodissociation dynamics of transition metal carbonyls, like Fe(CO)5, are fundamental for understanding active catalytic intermediates. Although extensively studied, the structural dynamics of these systems remain elusive. Using ultrafast X-ray scattering, we unc...

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Main Authors: Aviad Schori, Elisa Biasin, Ambar Banerjee, Sébastien Boutet, Philip H. Bucksbaum, Sergio Carbajo, Kelly J. Gaffney, James M. Glownia, Robert Hartsock, Kathryn Ledbetter, Andreas Kaldun, Jason E. Koglin, Kristjan Kunnus, Thomas J. Lane, Mengning Liang, Michael P. Minitti, Jordan T. O’Neal, Robert M. Parrish, Frédéric Poitevin, Jennifer M. Ruddock, Silke Nelson, Brian Stankus, Peter M. Weber, Thomas J. A. Wolf, Michael Odelius, Adi Natan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60009-8
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author Aviad Schori
Elisa Biasin
Ambar Banerjee
Sébastien Boutet
Philip H. Bucksbaum
Sergio Carbajo
Kelly J. Gaffney
James M. Glownia
Robert Hartsock
Kathryn Ledbetter
Andreas Kaldun
Jason E. Koglin
Kristjan Kunnus
Thomas J. Lane
Mengning Liang
Michael P. Minitti
Jordan T. O’Neal
Robert M. Parrish
Frédéric Poitevin
Jennifer M. Ruddock
Silke Nelson
Brian Stankus
Peter M. Weber
Thomas J. A. Wolf
Michael Odelius
Adi Natan
author_facet Aviad Schori
Elisa Biasin
Ambar Banerjee
Sébastien Boutet
Philip H. Bucksbaum
Sergio Carbajo
Kelly J. Gaffney
James M. Glownia
Robert Hartsock
Kathryn Ledbetter
Andreas Kaldun
Jason E. Koglin
Kristjan Kunnus
Thomas J. Lane
Mengning Liang
Michael P. Minitti
Jordan T. O’Neal
Robert M. Parrish
Frédéric Poitevin
Jennifer M. Ruddock
Silke Nelson
Brian Stankus
Peter M. Weber
Thomas J. A. Wolf
Michael Odelius
Adi Natan
author_sort Aviad Schori
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Mechanistic insights into photodissociation dynamics of transition metal carbonyls, like Fe(CO)5, are fundamental for understanding active catalytic intermediates. Although extensively studied, the structural dynamics of these systems remain elusive. Using ultrafast X-ray scattering, we uncover the photochemistry of Fe(CO)5 in real space and time, observing synchronous oscillations in atomic pair distances, followed by a prompt rotating CO release preferentially in the axial direction. This behavior aligns with simulations, reflecting the interplay between the axial Fe-C distances’ potential energy landscape and non-adiabatic transitions between metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states. Additionally, we characterize a secondary delayed CO release associated with a reduction of Fe-C steady state distances and structural dynamics of the formed Fe(CO)4. Our results quantify energy redistribution across vibration, rotation, and translation degrees of freedom, offering a microscopic view of complex structural dynamics, enhancing our grasp on Fe(CO)5 photodissociation, and advancing our understanding of transition metal catalytic systems.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-bf07a6caf0654615ac05508d25fe43fd2025-08-20T03:48:15ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-011611910.1038/s41467-025-60009-8Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistributionAviad Schori0Elisa Biasin1Ambar Banerjee2Sébastien Boutet3Philip H. Bucksbaum4Sergio Carbajo5Kelly J. Gaffney6James M. Glownia7Robert Hartsock8Kathryn Ledbetter9Andreas Kaldun10Jason E. Koglin11Kristjan Kunnus12Thomas J. Lane13Mengning Liang14Michael P. Minitti15Jordan T. O’Neal16Robert M. Parrish17Frédéric Poitevin18Jennifer M. Ruddock19Silke Nelson20Brian Stankus21Peter M. Weber22Thomas J. A. Wolf23Michael Odelius24Adi Natan25Stanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryDepartment of Physics, Stockholm UniversityLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryDepartment of Chemistry, Brown UniversityLinac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryDepartment of Chemistry, Brown UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, Brown UniversityStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryDepartment of Physics, Stockholm UniversityStanford PULSE Institute, SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryAbstract Mechanistic insights into photodissociation dynamics of transition metal carbonyls, like Fe(CO)5, are fundamental for understanding active catalytic intermediates. Although extensively studied, the structural dynamics of these systems remain elusive. Using ultrafast X-ray scattering, we uncover the photochemistry of Fe(CO)5 in real space and time, observing synchronous oscillations in atomic pair distances, followed by a prompt rotating CO release preferentially in the axial direction. This behavior aligns with simulations, reflecting the interplay between the axial Fe-C distances’ potential energy landscape and non-adiabatic transitions between metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states. Additionally, we characterize a secondary delayed CO release associated with a reduction of Fe-C steady state distances and structural dynamics of the formed Fe(CO)4. Our results quantify energy redistribution across vibration, rotation, and translation degrees of freedom, offering a microscopic view of complex structural dynamics, enhancing our grasp on Fe(CO)5 photodissociation, and advancing our understanding of transition metal catalytic systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60009-8
spellingShingle Aviad Schori
Elisa Biasin
Ambar Banerjee
Sébastien Boutet
Philip H. Bucksbaum
Sergio Carbajo
Kelly J. Gaffney
James M. Glownia
Robert Hartsock
Kathryn Ledbetter
Andreas Kaldun
Jason E. Koglin
Kristjan Kunnus
Thomas J. Lane
Mengning Liang
Michael P. Minitti
Jordan T. O’Neal
Robert M. Parrish
Frédéric Poitevin
Jennifer M. Ruddock
Silke Nelson
Brian Stankus
Peter M. Weber
Thomas J. A. Wolf
Michael Odelius
Adi Natan
Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution
Nature Communications
title Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution
title_full Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution
title_fullStr Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution
title_full_unstemmed Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution
title_short Real-space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution
title_sort real space observation of the dissociation of a transition metal complex and its concurrent energy redistribution
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60009-8
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