Highlights of the spectroscopy, photochemistry and electrochemistry of [M(CO)4(α-diimine)] complexes, M=Cr, Mo, W

Tetracarbonyl-diimine complexes [M(CO)(4)(alpha-diimine)] (M = Cr, Mo, W; alpha-diimine = polypyridyl (bpy, phen), pyridine-2-carbaldehyde (R-PyCa) or 1,4-diaza-butadiene, (R-DAB)) have very interesting structural, spectroscopic, electrochemical and photochemical properties. Their comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations have important implications for our understanding of the chemistry of organometallic complexes with noninnocent ligands. The most interesting physical and chemical aspects of [M(CO)(4)(alpha-diimine)] complexes, which have more general relevance, are highlighted and discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.