UV Photodissociation and Energy-Selective Ionization of Organometallic Compounds in a Molecular Beam

This chapter introduces the application of molecular beams, ultraviolet lasers, energy-selective ionization, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry to the general study of the Laser Chemistry of Organometallics. It briefly contrasts energy-selective vacuum ultraviolet ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry with other laser methods used in investigating the photodecomposition of organometallic molecules. After a description of the experimental apparatus, a summary of results from photodissociation studies of dicarbonyl(η5-cyclopentadienyl)(1-propyl)iron appears.