Growth and photodissociation of Crx-(coronene)y complexes

Gas-phase complexes are produced containing one or more chromium atoms bound to one or more molecules of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) coronene (C24H12) These species are prepared with laser vaporization in a pulsed-nozzle cluster source of a chromium rod coated with a thin film of coronene. Mass spectroscopy reveals the formation of clusters of the form Cr-x(coronene)(y)(+) up to sizes with x = 5 and y = 3. Mass-selected laser photodissociation studies investigate the possible structural patterns in these novel complexes. Evidence is presented for multiple metal attachment on the same side of the coronene molecule, for metal and multimetal sandwich structures, and for multiple decker sandwich structures. Chromium atom insertion into the aromatic system is observed for several cluster sizes. Complexes with at least four chromium atoms fragment by extensive decomposition of the aromatic ring system.