A series of gas-phase reactions between various transition metal β-diketonate complexes were observed in situ using a double sector mass spectrometer. Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Al complexes with the ligands 2,4-pentanedione, 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione and 1,1,1-trifluoro-5,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexanedione were used. Metal center and ligand effects are investigated. Ligand exchange reactions were observed to occur readily between binary combinations of most complexes and an ion-neutral reaction mechanism is proposed.
Heteroleptic species were also synthesized through ligand exchange reactions in solvo to yield monomeric and dimeric structures of heteroleptic nickel species with the ligands 2,4-pentanedione and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate.