Electronic Excitation of [(μ4‐η2‐alkyne)Rh4(CO)8(μ‐CO)2]: An In Situ UV/Vis Spectroscopy,Spectral Reconstruction and DFT Study

Reactions of three alkynes, namely, 1‐heptyne, 3‐hexyne and 1‐phenyl‐1‐butyne, with Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃] are performed in anhydrous hexane under argon atmosphere with multiple perturbations of alkynes and Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃]. The reactions are monitored by in situ UV/Vis spectroscopy, and the collected electronic spectra are further analyzed with the band‐target entropy minimization (BTEM) family of algorithms to reconstruct the pure component spectra. Three BTEM estimates of (μ₄‐η²‐alkyne)Rh₄(CO)₈(μ‐CO)₂], in addition to that of Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃], are successfully reconstructed from the experimental spectra. Time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) predicted spectra at the PBE0/DGDZVP level are consistent with the corresponding BTEM estimates. The present study demonstrates that: 1) the BTEM family of algorithms is successful in analyzing multi‐component UV/Vis spectra and results in good spectral estimates of the trace organometallics present; and 2) the subsequent DFT/TD‐DFT methods provide an interpretation of the nature of the electronic excitation and can be used to predict the electronic spectra of similar transition organometallic complexes.