Spectral properties of organometallic transition metal complexes I–Mass spectra of haloacteophenones haloacetylferroce,Fc?CO–CH2X,and related ferrocence complexes FcCOCI and FcCH2CI

The mass spectral properties of the title compounds have been recorded and compared. For the haloacetyl systems ring expansions to tropylium ions and π-benzene iron ions are observed. A major ion present in all haloacetyl spectra is that derived from the corresponding acetyl compound, CH₃CO-, formed via an instrument catalyzed reduction of the halo compounds by residual water. Some substituent effects are observed. Considerable halogen migration to iron is observed for the ferrocene complexes.