EXAFS investigation of metal organic synthesis tools

An EXAFS spectroscopical study of three metal organic systems is presented. First, a series of differently concentrated Grignard compounds in solution were measured in order to obtain the degree of association and to find an eventual concentration dependence of the structure. No significant changes in the structure could be detected in the measured concentration range. The second investigated system Mg(CHBr-CH2Ph)(2), dissolved in THF, belongs to the relatively new class of carbenoids. A structural model of this compound, especially of the local environment of the a-carbon atom is deduced. Thirdly, Reformatsky compounds in solution with different ester groups, solvents and concentrations were studied. It is shown that the structure of these compounds depends on the polarity of the solvents. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.