Metal and Multimetal Complexes with Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons: Formation and Photodissociation of Fex−(Coronene)y Cations

Gas-phase cluster complexes containing coronene and iron are produced in a molecular beam and studied with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Cation complexes are produced in a pulsed nozzle laser vaporization cluster source using a metal rod coated with a sublimed film of coronene. Cluster masses of the form [Fex−cory]+ are observed for x = 1−3 and y = 1,2. Additional masses are observed for the complexes [Fe−cory]+ for y = 1−7. Mass-selected laser photodissociation experiments probe the structure and bonding in these new cluster species. Evidence is presented for stable sandwich structures and for the existence of multi-iron species as separated atoms on the coronene surface.