Stoichiometric H2 production from H2O upon Mn2(CO)10 photolysis

Abstract Photolysis of Mn 2 (CO) 10 in an alkane/water biphasic system has resulted in the generation of 1.80 ± 0.16 mol of hydrogen per mol of Mn 2 (CO) 10 . Various studies including deuteration have indeed shown water to be the H 2 source while kinetic studies have indicated a strong correlation between the concentration of the key intermediate MnH(CO) 5 with the production rate of H 2 . Some of the oxygen atoms of water have been incorporated into a white solid assigned to MnCO 3 . A mechanism accounting for MnH(CO) 5 formation from Mn 2 (CO) 10 photolysis and subsequently H 2 production from MnH(CO) 5 has been proposed.