Kinetic and thermochemical characteristics of the dissociation of Mo(CO)6 and W(CO)6

The thermal dissociation of gaseous Mo(CO)₆ and W(CO)₆ in an argon carrier gas, Mo(CO)₆ → Mo(CO)₅ + CO (1) and W(CO)₆ → W(CO)₅ + CO (2), is studied over temperature ranges of ～585–685 K for (1) and ～690?810 K for (2) at a total gas concentrations of 4 × 10^?6 and 4 × 10^?5 mol/cm³ by using the shock tube technique in conjunction with absorption spectrophotometry. The measured rate constants are extrapolated to the high-pressure limit by means of a newly developed procedure, with the resultant expressions for the indicated temperature ranges reading as k_d1,∞(T),s^?1] = 10^{16.12 ± 0.68}exp(?148.8 ± 8.1 kJ/mol)/RT] and k_d2,∞(T),s^?1] = 10^{15.93 ± 0.63}exp(?171.7 ± 8.9 kJ/mol)/RT]. Comparison of the high-pressure dissociation rate constants with the published data revealed a considerable discrepancy, a tentative explanation of which is given. Based on the obtained high-pressure dissociation rate constants and the available data on the high-pressure room-temperature rate constants for the reverse reaction of recombination, the first bond dissociation energies for these molecules are evaluated and compared with previous determinations, both theoretical and experimental. The enthalpies of formation of Mo(CO)₅ and W(CO)₅ are determined: Δ_fH°(Mo(CO)₅, g, 298.15 K) = ?644.1 ± 5.6 kJ/mol and Δ_fH°(W(CO)₅, g, 298.15 K) = ?581.9 ± 6.6 kJ/mol. Based on the enthalpies of formation of Mo(CO)₅, W(CO)₅, Mo(CO)₆, and W(CO)₆, and the published molecular parameters of these four species, their thermochemical functions are calculated and presented in the form of NASA seven-term polynomials.