Characterization of chromium-carbene complexes by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with particle beam interface

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with mass spectrometric (MS) detection was used to separate and characterize a series of chromium -aminocarbene and alkoxycarbene complexes of the Fischer type, some of which were synthesized as new compounds. Chromium-carbene complexes are known to have interesting photochemical properties. The separation of all the compounds examined was performed under normal-phase conditions and a particle beam LC-MS interface was used. The acquisition of positive-ion and negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectra of the eluates was performed. The use of the LC-PB-MS system demonstrated the potential role of this technique in the elucidation of the structure of polar organometallic compounds, such as the carbene complexes of chromium examined.