MULTIPHOTON IONIZATION OF COBALT ATOMS PRODUCED BY MULTIPHOTON DISSOCIATION OF CO(CO)3NO AND CO(CO)2(NO)PCH3, CO(CO)2(NO)PN-C3H7, CO(CO)2(NO)PN-C4H9

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization is used to probe the cobalt atomic state distributions produced in the multiphoton dissociation of the title compounds in the 445-453 nm range under various laser field strengths. At relatively weak laser field strengths, exclusive production of Co(a 2F) is achieved from Co(CO)2(NO)P(n-C4H9)3. Ground state a 4F and the b 4F multiplets are observed as the size of the PR3 ligand decreases or if the PR3 ligand is replaced by CO. Increasing the laser field strength greatly enhances production of the 4F multiplets to the point where it is independent of the molecular precursor. The dissociation mechanism is discussed in respect to the above observations. © 1990.