Rydberg state mediated multiphoton ionization of (η-CH)(η-CH)Cr: DFT-supported experimental insights into the molecular and electronic structures of excited sandwich complexes.

The resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of a mixed sandwich complex has been achieved for the first time when exciting (η7-C7H7)(η5-C5H5)Cr via the Rydberg 4pz state. The REMPI spectrum is indicative of unexpectedly small changes of the sandwich geometry on excitation. Time-dependent DFT calculations reveal fine effects of the ligand nature on the molecular and electronic structure variations accompanying electronic excitation.