Assessment of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the simultaneous extraction,preconcentration, and derivatization of Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ for further determination by GC–MS

This work reports the development of a dispersive liquid – liquid microextraction method for the simultaneous extraction, preconcentration, and derivatization of Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺ species from water samples for further determination by GC – MS. Some parameters of the proposed method, such as volume and type of disperser and extraction solvent, and Na[B(C₆H₅)₄] concentration were investigated using response surface methodology. Suitable recoveries were obtained using 80 μL C₂Cl₄ (as extraction solvent), 1000 μL ethanol (as disperser solvent), and 300 μL 2.1 mmol/L Na[B(C₆H₅)₄] (as derivatizing agent). Accuracy was evaluated in terms of recovery and ranged from 87 to 99% with RSD values <7%. In addition, a certified reference material of water (NIST 1641d) was analyzed and agreed with the certified value about 107% (for Hg²⁺), with RSD values <8.5%. LODs were 0.3 and 0.2 μg/L, with enrichment factors of 112 and 115 for Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺, respectively. The optimized method was applied for the determination of Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺ in tap, well, and lake water samples.     

Determination of mercury species by the diffusive gradient in thin film technique and liquid chromatography – atomic fluorescence spectrometry after microwave extraction

A diffusive gradient in thin films technique (DGT) was combined with liquid chromatography (LC) and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS) for the simultaneous quantification of four mercury species (Hg²⁺, CH₃Hg⁺, C₂H₅Hg⁺, and C₆H₅Hg⁺). After diffusion through an agarose diffusive layer, the mercury species were accumulated in resin gels containing thiol-functionalized ion-exchange resins (Duolite GT73, and Ambersep GT74). A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) in the presence of 6 M HCl and 5 M HCl (55 °C, 15 min) was used for isolation of mercury species from Ambersep and Duolite resin gels, respectively. The extraction efficiency was higher than 95.0% (RSD 3.5%). The mercury species were separated with a mobile phase containing 6.2% methanol + 0.05% 2-mercaptoethanol + 0.02 M ammonium acetate with a stepwise increase of methanol content up to 80% in the 16th min on a Zorbax C18 reverse phase column. The LODs of DGT–MAE–LC–CV-AFS method were 38 ng L⁻¹ for CH₃Hg⁺, 13 ng L⁻¹ for Hg²⁺, 34 ng L⁻¹ for C₂H₅Hg⁺ and 30 ng L⁻¹ for C₆H₅Hg⁺ for 24 h DGT accumulation at 25 °C.     

Dealkylation of alkylcobalt complexes by the mercury(II) electrophile

The dealkylation of a variety of RCo(BDMBg)⁺ complexes by Hg²⁺ is discussed. (The ligand BDMBg^- is formed by the condensation of two moles of 2,3-butanedionemonoxime with one mole of 1,3-propanediamine or 1,2-ethanediamine.) The products of the dealkylation reaction are Co^III(BDMBg)(H₂O)²⁺₂ and RHg⁺. All reactions are first order in the [Hg²⁺]. The second order rate constants (k₂) vary from 5.9 M^-1 sec^-1 (R = CH₃) to 5.7 x 10^-3M^-1 sec^-1 (R = n-C₃H₇). The relative rates for R are: CH₃ ? C₂H₅ τ C₆H₅CH₂ τ n-C₄H₉ ? n-C₃H₇. This order and other evidence are indicative of an S_E2 mechanism with an attack by Hg²⁺ on the carbon bonded to the cobalt.     

Development of the diffusive gradient in thin films technique for the measurement of labile mercury species in waters

The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique, utilizing resin gel with ion-exchange resin Duolite GT73 and new ion-exchange resin Ambersep GT74, was investigated for the accumulation of four mercury species (Hg²⁺, CH₃Hg⁺, C₂H₅Hg⁺, C₆H₅Hg⁺). The diffusion coefficients of mercury species in agarose gel calculated on the basis of Fick’s Law were mercury species-specific. The diffusion coefficients of Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺ at 25 °C (9.07 ± 0.23 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ and 9.06 ± 0.30 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹, respectively) were very similar, but the diffusion coefficients of C₂H₅Hg⁺ (6.87 ± 0.23 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹) and C₆H₅Hg⁺ (3.86 ± 0.19 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹) were significantly lower. Influence of experimental conditions (pH, selected cations, chlorides and humic substance) on mercury species accumulation by DGT was studied. The DGT technique was applied to river water spiked with mercury species.     

Electrometric Behavior of Tetraphenylboron on Mercury

Electrometric behavior of tetraphenylboron (TPB) on mercury electrode was investigated, Potentiometric titration of Hg₂⁺⁺ with TPB⁻ showed that TPB⁻ reacted with Hg₂⁺⁺ with stoichiometric ratios (equivalent) of 1:3 and 1:8 (TPB: Hg₂⁺⁺) to form diphenylmercury, Hg(C₆H₅)₂, and phenylmercuric ion, C₆H₅—Hg⁺. Only 1:3 stoichiometry was found in the reverse titration. Potential response of TPB⁻ on mercury assumed the same result, and furthermore, if the concentration of TPB⁻ was around 10⁻³ M or higher, another stoichiometry of 1:1 with formation of Hg(I)-tetraphenylborate might be possible. Controlled potential oxidation of TPB⁻ on mercury gave Hg(C₆H₅)₂ and C₆H₅Hg⁺ which were identified by m. p. measurements and elementary analyses.     

Photodissociation of protonated β-diketones in the gas phase

The gas phase photodissociation spectra of four protonated β-diketones were obtained and compared with the absorption spectra of the corresponding ions in solution. Protonated 2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₅H₉O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₃H₆O with a λmax at 276±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 286 nm. Protonated 2,4-hexanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation processes [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₄H₈O and [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [C₂H₅CO]⁺ +C₃H₆O with a λmax at 279±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 288 nm. Protonated 3-methyl-2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₄H₈O with a λmax at 295±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 305 nm. Protonated 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₅H₆F₃O₂]⁺ +hν → CF₃H+[C₄H₅O₂]⁺ with a λmax at 273±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 288 nm. The [CH₃CO]⁺ and [C₂H₅CO]⁺ produced photochemically with the first three ions react to regenerate the protonated β-diketone leading to a photostationary state. Photodissociation of the protonated alkyl β-diketones is believed to occur from the protonated keto form, whereas photodissociation of protonated 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione is believed to occur from the protonated enol form. Mechanisms for the observed photodissociation processes are proposed and comparisons with results from related techniques are presented.     

Doubly charged benzene and isomeric dications. Fragmentation energetics and charge distributions calculated by MINDO/3 molecular orbital theory

MINDO/3 calculations for singlet and triplet doubly charged benzene [C₆H₆]²⁺ are in satisfactory agreement with the experimentally determined values of the vertical double ionization energy of benzene; calculations for straight chain isomeric structures are consistent with the observed kinetic energy release on fragmentation to [C₅H₃]⁺ and [CH₃]⁺. Symmetrical doubly charged benzene ions relax to a less symmetrical cyclic structure having sufficient internal energy to fragment by ring opening and hydrogen transfer towards the ends of the carbon chain. Fragmentation of [CH₃C₄CH₃]²⁺ to [CH₃C₄]⁺ and [CH₃]⁺ is a relatively high energy process (A), whereas both (B): [CH₃CHC₃CH₂]²⁺ to [CHC₃CH₂]⁺ and [CH₃]⁺ and (C): [CH₃CHCCHCCH]²⁺ to [CHCCHCCH]⁺ and [CH₃]⁺ may be exothermic processes from doubly charged benzene. Furthermore, the calculated energy for the reverse of process (A) is less than the experimentally observed kinetic energy released, whereas larger energies for the reverse of processes B and C are predicted. Heats of formation of homologous series [HC_n]⁺, [CH₃C_n]⁺, [CH₂C_n?2CH]⁺, [CH₃C_n?2CH₂]⁺ and [CH₂?CHC_n?3CH₂]⁺ with 1 < n < 6 are calculated to aid prediction of the most stable products of fragmentation of doubly charged cations. The homologous series [CH₂C_n?2CH]⁺ is relatively stable and may account for ready fragmentation of doubly charged ions to [C_nH₃]⁺; alternatively the symmetrical [C₅H₃]⁺ ion [CHCCHCCH]⁺ may be formed. Dicoordinate carbon chains appear to be important stabilizing features for both cations and dications.     

Electrophilic aromatic substitution under chemical ionization conditions. Methylamine and ammonia as reagent gases

For compounds C₆H₅X (X?Cl, Br, I) under chemical ionization conditions, methylamine causes ipso substitution of X by [NH₂CH₃]⁺ and by [NH₂]⁺˙. C₆H₅F is less reactive; it gives some [C₆H₅NH₂]⁺˙. Nitrobenzene gives an adduct ion [M+CH₃NH₃]⁺, a reduction product ion [C₆H₅NO₂]⁺˙, and an ion at m/z93, probably a substitution product [C₆H₅NH₂]⁺˙, but no [C₆H₅NH₂CH₃]⁺. It is also shown that the ion m/z94, formed from nitrobenzene with ammonia as reagent gas, is a substitution product rather than a reduction product ion. Carbonyl compounds C₆H₅. CO. X give adduct ions and some substitution, mainly [C₆H₅NH₂]⁺˙.     

The heats of formation of some protonated olefinic carbonyl compounds: [C5H9O]+ and [C4H7O2]+ ions

The proton transfer equilibrium reactions involving 3-penten-2-one, 3-methyl-3-buten-2-one, crotonic acid and methacrylic acid were carried out in an ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) spectrometer. The semiempirical method MNDO, used to estimate the heats of formation for 14 protonated [C₅H₉O]⁺ and [C₄H₇O₂]⁺ ions and the energetic aspect of the fragmentations of metastable [C₆H₁₂O]^+. and [C₆H₁₂O₂]^+. ions, leads to the conclusion that the ions corresponding to protonation at the carbonyl oxygen are the most stable. Thus the experimentally determined heats of formation of protonated olefinic carbonyl compounds can be attributed to the following structures: [CH₃COHCHCHCH₃]⁺ (δH_f = 490 KJ mol^?1), [CH₃COHC(CH₃)CH₂]⁺ (δH_f = 502 KJ mol^?1), [HOCOHCHCHCH₃]⁺ (δH_f = 330 KJ mol^?1) and [HOCOHC(CH₃)CH₂]⁺ (δH_f = 336 KJ mol^?1).     

Ab initio study of the formation of C3H3+ from the reaction of CH3+ with acetylene

Ab initio molecular orbital theory has been used to study the mechanism of the formation of C₃H₃⁺ from the reaction of CH₃⁺ with acetylene. The highest level geometry optimizations and frequencies were computed at MP2-FC/6-31G**; single point energies of all the critical structures were computed to the MP4-FC/6-31G**//MP2-FC/6-31G** theory level. One of the three alternative transition structures leading to the formation of C₃H₃⁺ gives the cyclopropenyl cation and the other two the propargyl cation. The proportions of C₃H₂D⁺ and C₃HD₂⁺ obtained when CD₃⁺ reacts with acetylene, and the composite nature of the metastable peak observed for the [C₃H₅]⁺→[C₃H₃]⁺ + H₂ fragmentation are explained by assuming a different degree of deuterium scrambling depending on the energy of the system. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An investigation of the decomposition of the common intermediate ions produced by electron impact. IV—[C6H5CO]+ ions from several alkyl benzoates

The decomposition of the [C₆H₅CO]⁺ ions produced from eight alkyl benzoates by electron impact has been studied. By calculating the heat of formation of [C₆H₅CO]⁺ ions from the appearance potential value, it is shown that the ions from C₆H₅COOR when R?H, CH₃, C₂H₅ have some excess energy, and those where R = n-C₃H₇, iso-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, iso-C₄H₉, iso-C₅H₁₁ are produced with more excess energy. It is also shown that by taking this excess energy into account, there is a linear relationship between the heat of formation of the activated complex produced in the reaction [C₆H₅CO]⁺→[C₆H₅]⁺ + CO and the vibrational degree of freedom of the neutral fragment ? OR.     

Validation of a simplified field-adapted procedure for routine determinations of methyl mercury at trace levels in natural water samples using species-specific isotope dilution mass spectrometry

A field-adapted procedure based on species-specific isotope dilution (SSID) methodology for trace-level determinations of methyl mercury (CH₃Hg⁺) in mire, fresh and sea water samples was developed, validated and applied in a field study. In the field study, mire water samples were filtered, standardised volumetrically with isotopically enriched CH₃²⁰⁰Hg⁺, and frozen on dry ice. The samples were derivatised in the laboratory without further pre-treatment using sodium tetraethyl borate (NaB(C₂H₅)₄) and the ethylated methyl mercury was purge-trapped on Tenax columns. The analyte was thermo-desorbed onto a GC-ICP-MS system for analysis. Investigations preceding field application of the method showed that when using SSID, for all tested matrices, identical results were obtained between samples that were freeze-preserved or analysed unpreserved. For DOC-rich samples (mire water) additional experiments showed no difference in CH₃Hg⁺ concentration between samples that were derivatised without pre-treatment or after liquid extraction. Extractions of samples for matrix–analyte separation prior to derivatisation are therefore not necessary. No formation of CH₃Hg⁺ was observed during sample storage and treatment when spiking samples with ¹⁹⁸Hg²⁺. Total uncertainty budgets for the field application of the method showed that for analyte concentrations higher than 1.5 pg g^–1 (as Hg) the relative expanded uncertainty (REU) was approximately 5% and dominated by the uncertainty in the isotope standard concentration. Below 0.5 pg g^–1 (as Hg), the REU was >10% and dominated by variations in the field blank. The uncertainty of the method is sufficiently low to accurately determine CH₃Hg⁺ concentrations at trace levels. The detection limit was determined to be 4 fg g^–1 (as Hg) based on replicate analyses of laboratory blanks. The described procedure is reliable, considerably faster and simplified compared to non-SSID methods and thereby very suitable for routine applications of CH₃Hg⁺ speciation analysis in a wide range of water samples.     

Thermodynamik der Metallkomplexbildung mit Polyoxadiazamacrocyclen

Ligands of the type H_3-nN(CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂)_nNH_3?n with n values from 1 to 3 have been investigated. The stability constants and the heat evolved by formation of the 1:1 complexes of Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Tl⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ have been determined. The complex formation is discussed in terms of ΔH and ΔS taking into consideration the radii of the cations. In contrast with the normal trend, for the A cations, complex formation is exothermic and almost exclusively favoured by the reaction enthalpy.     

Metastable ion studies. III—composite metastable peaks in fragmentations of some small hydrocarbon cations

Composite metastable peaks are generated in the unimolecular fragmentations (i) [C₃H₅]⁺ → [C₃H₃]⁺ + H₂ (flat-top upon flat-top) and (ii) [C₄H₉]⁺ → [C₃H₅]⁺ + CH₄ (flat-top and gaussian). The measurement of appearance potentials and kinetic energy releases lead us to conclude, in agreement with earlier proposals, that in (i) the components can arise from the generation of the isomeric cyclopropenium and propargyl daughter cations. In (ii) the components are proposed to arise from the fragmentation of tert- and sec-butyl cations yielding allyl as the common daughter ion. The composite peak observed in the fragmentation (iii) [C₃H₄]⁺· → [C₃H₃]⁺ + H· is shown to be present only if the decomposing molecular ion is large enough to also produce [C₆H₈]²⁺ ions. The second component in (iii) then arises from the reaction [C₆H₈]²⁺ → [C₆H₆]²⁺ + H₂.     

Routine analysis of mercury species using commercially available instrumentation: chemometric optimisation of the instrumental variables

Mercury speciation analysis (inorganic mercury, Hg²⁺, methylmercury, CH₃Hg⁺ and dimethylmercury, (CH₃)₂Hg) by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to atomic emission spectroscopy with microwave induced plasma as excitation source (MIP-AES), after ethylation of the sample and extraction of the derivatised species into an organic phase, has been optimised using factorial design, analysis of variance and MultiSimplex techniques. Standard conditions were used in the derivatisation step with sodium tetraethylborate (NaB(C₂H₅)₄) and in the extraction step into hexane. Good separation of the species investigated and maximum sensitivity was achieved using an OV-1701 capillary column. The sensitivity was found to be maximum with an helium flow rate (make-up flow) of 100 ml min⁻¹. Procedures for a correct cleaning of glass and plastic ware, as well as for the purification of reagents used throughout the analytical process, are also suggested in order to avoid unacceptably high blank signals. The effect that ageing of stock solutions used in calibrations has on the artefact formation of CH₃Hg⁺ has been also investigated. Using the optimum conditions found, good quality calibration curves (R²>0.995) for the three mercury species were obtained. Absolute detection limits of 0.5, 3 and 15 pg of (CH₃)₂Hg, CH₃Hg⁺ and Hg²⁺, respectively, were estimated. The repeatability of the analysis was found to be better than 5% (n=5) in relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) units. The optimised procedure for the speciation of mercury in standard samples is the first step in the development of a method for routine analysis of mercury species in aquatic environmental samples.     

Dissociative Photoionization of 1,4-Dioxane with Tunable VUV Synchrotron Radiation

The photoionization and photodissociation of 1,4-dioxane have been investigated with a reflectron time-of-flight photoionization mass spectrometry and a tunable vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation in the energy region of 8.0-15.5 eV. Parent ion and fragment ions at m/z 88, 87, 58, 57, 45, 44, 43, 41, 31, 30, 29, 28 and 15 are detected under supersonic conditions. The ionization energy of DX as well as the appearance energies of its fragment ions C₄H₇O₂⁺, C₃H₆O⁺, C₃H₅O⁺, C₂H₅O⁺, C₂H₄O⁺, C₂H₃O⁺, C₃H₅⁺, CH₃O⁺, C₂H₆⁺, C₂H₅⁺/CHO⁺, C₂H₄⁺ and CH₃⁺ was determined from their photoionization efficiency curves. The optimized structures for the neutrals, cations, transition states and intermediates related to photodissociation of DX are characterized at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level and their energies are obtained by G3B3 method. Possible dissociative channels of the DX are proposed based on comparison of experimental AE values and theoretical predicted ones. Intramolecular hydrogen migrations are found to be the dominant processes in most of the fragmentation pathways of 1,4-dioxane.     

Charge separation reactions of doubly charged benzene ions

Photoion-photoion coincidence spectra of benzene and benzene-d₆ photoionized by He(II) light and synchrotron radiation show the existence of six major and eight minor charge-separation reactions of the [C₆H₆]²⁺ ion. Three main groups of ion pairs are related to [C₃H₃]⁺ + [C₃H₃]⁺, [C₂H₃]⁺ + [C₄H₃]⁺ and [CH₃]⁺ + [C₅H₃]⁺, with appearance energies of 32.2 ± 0.5 eV, 31.3 ± 0.5 eV and 28.4 ± 0.3 eV. The kinetic energy release is the same for all pairs within a group, irrespective of hydrogen number, but differs from group to group. Results are interpreted in terms of fast, direct charge separation of [C₆H₆]²⁺, and subsequent hydrogen loss by the singly charged fragments.     

Preconcentration and speciation of inorganic and methyl mercury in waters using polyaniline and gold trap-CVAAS

Applicability of polyaniline (PANI) has been investigated for the preconcentration and speciation of inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺) and methyl mercury (CH₃Hg⁺) in various waters (ground, lake and sea waters). Preliminary experiments (batch) with powdered PANI for the quantitative removal of both Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺ showed that the retention of Hg²⁺ was almost independent of pH while a pH dependent trend from pH 1 to 12 was seen for CH₃Hg⁺ with maximum retention at pH > 5. Time dependence batch studies showed that a contact time of 10 min was sufficient to reach equilibrium. The K_d values were found to be ∼8 × 10⁴ and ∼7 × 10³ for Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺, respectively.Subsequently column experiments were carried out with PANI and the separation of the species was carried out by selective and sequential elution with 0.3% HCl for CH₃Hg⁺ and 0.3% HCl-0.02% thiourea for Hg²⁺. This was then followed by further pre-concentration of mercury on a gold trap and its determination by CVAAS. The uptake efficiency studies showed that the PANI column was able to accumulate up to 100 mg Hg²⁺/g and 2.5 mg CH₃Hg⁺/g. This method allows both preconcentration and speciation of mercury with preconcentration factors around 120 and 60 for Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺, respectively. The interfering effects of various foreign substances on the retention of mercury were investigated.     

High temperature pyrolysis of methane in shock waves. Rates for dissociative recombination reactions of methyl radicals and for propyne formation reaction

The pyrolysis of 2% CH₄ and 5% CH₄ diluted with Ar was studied using both a single–pulse and time–resolved spectroscopic methods over the temperature range 1400–2200 K and pressure range 2.3–3.7 atm. The rate constant expressions for dissociative recombination reactions of methyl radicals, CH₃ + CH₃ → C₂H₅ + H and CH₃ + CH₃ → C₂H₄ + H₂, and for C₃H₄ formation reaction were investigated. The simulation results required considerably lower value than that reported for CH₃ + CH₃ → C₂H₄ + H₂. Propyne formation was interpreted well by reaction C₂H₂ + CH₃ → P-C₃H₄ + H with ?? = 6.2 × ¹⁰12 exp(?17 kcal/RT) ^cm3 mol^?1 s^?1.     

Reactions of nucleophiles with cyclopentadienyliron complexed halotoluenes

η⁶-o-Chlorotoluene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate undergoes nucleophilic substitution of the chlorine atom with anions generated (K₂CO₃/DMF) from methyl thioglycolate, diethyl malonate, dimethyl malonate, methyl acetoacetate and 2,4-pentanedione. The compounds prepared were o-CH₃C₆H₄SCH₂CO₂CH₃FeCp⁺PF₆⁻, o-CH₃C₆H₄CH(CO₂C₂H₅)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻, o-CH₃C₆H₄CH(CO₂CH₃)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻, o-CH₃C₆H₄CH(COCH₃)CO₂CH₃FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ and o-CH₃C₆H₄CH₂COCH₃FeCp⁺PF₆ . Similarly, the reaction of diethyl malonate, dimethyl malonate, methyl acetoacetate anions and methylamine with η⁶-2,6-dichlorotoluene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate yielded monosubstitution of one of the chloro groups. The complexes prepared in this study were η⁶-diethyl(3-chloro-2-methyl) phenylmalonate- η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate, η⁶-dimethyl(3-chloro-2-methyl)phenylmalonate-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate, η⁶-methyl(3-chloro-2-methyl)phenylacetoacetate-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate and η⁶-3-chloro(2-methyl-N-methyl)aniline-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate. Reaction of η⁶-2,6-dichlorotoluene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate with excess methanol as well as methyl thioglycolate in the presence of K₂CO₃ resulted in disubstitution of both chloro groups to yield new complexes, η⁶-2,6-dimethoxytoluene-η⁵-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate and η⁶-methyl[(2-methylphenyl)1,3-dithio] diacetate-η⁵5-cyclopentadienyliron hexafluorophosphate, respectively. Complexes o-CH₃C₆H₄CH(CO₂C₂H₅)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻, o-CH₃C₆H₄CH(CO₂CH₃)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ and o-CH₃C₆H₄CH₂ COCH₃FeCp⁺ PF₆⁻ react with excess K₂CO₃ and benzyl bromide in refluxing methylene chloride to give 80–90% yields of complexes o-CH₃C₆H₄C(CH₂C₆H₅)(CO₂C₂H₅)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻, o-CH₃C₆H₄C(CH₂C₆H₅)(CO₂CH₃)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ and o-CH₃C₆H₄CH(CH₂C₆H₅)COCH₃FeCp⁺PF₆⁻, respectively. Reaction of complex, o-CH₃C₆H₄C(CH₂C₆H₅)(CO₂C₂H₅)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ with one molar equivalent of t-BuOK followed by acidic work-up gives o-(C₂H₅CO₂CH₂)C₆H₄CH(CO₂C₂H₅)CH₂C₆H₅FeCp⁺PF₆⁻. Similarly, reactions of complexes o-CH₃C₆H₄C(CH₂C₆H₅)(CO₂C₂H₅)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ and o-CH₃C₆H₄C(CH₂C₆H₅)(CO₂CH₃)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ with t-BuOK in THF followed by alkylation with methyl iodide gave the new complexes, o-(C₂H₅O₂C(CH₃)CH)C₆H₄CH(CH₂C₆H₅)CO₂C₂H₅FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ and o-(CH₃O₂C(CH₃)CH)C₆H₄CH(CH₂C₆H₅)CO₂CH₃FeCp⁺PF₆⁻, respectively. Vacuum sublimation of the new complexes, o-CH₃C₆H₄C(CH₂C₆H₅)(CO₂C₂H₅)₂FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ and o-(C₂H₅O₂CCH₂)C₆H₄CH(CH₂C₆H₅)CO₂C₂H₅FeCp⁺PF₆⁻ gives o-CH₃C₆H₄C(CH₂C₆H₅)(CO₂C₂H₅)₂ and O-(C₂H₅O₂CCH₂)C₆H₄CH(CH₂C₆H₅)CO₂C₂H₅, respectively.