Oxygen abstraction by laser pyrolysis of W(CO)6; a mild route to gas-phase carbene chemistry.

SF6-photosensitiZed IR laser pyrolysis of W(CO)6 in the gas phase at moderate temperatures leads to unsaturated W(CO)n (n < 6) species; these prove to be effective abstractors of O atoms from a range of organic substrates, and afford a simple, clean and low-energy route from carbonyl compounds into gas phase carbene chemistry.