Fragmentation of transition metal carbonyl cluster anions: structural insights from mass spectrometry.

The anionic clusters [HOs(5)(CO)(15)](-), [PtRu(5)C(CO)(15)](2-), [Os(10)C(CO)(24)](2-), [Os(17)(CO)(36)](2-), [Os(20)(CO)(40)](3-), [Co(6)C(CO)(15)](2-), [Pt(3)Ru(10)C(2)(CO)(32)](2-) and [Pd(6)Ru(6)(CO)(24)](2-) have been analysed by energy-dependent electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (EDESI-MS). Three main features have emerged. Firstly, carbonyl ligands are fragmented from clusters with compact metal cores in an orderly fashion, with each of the ions generated by CO loss having approximately equal intensity.