The heats of hydrogenation of the metal-metal bonded complexes [M(CO)₃C₅H₅]₂ (M = Cr, Mo, W)

Direct measurement of the enthalpy of decomposition of HCr(CO)₃C₅H₅ to [Cr(CO)₃C₅H₅]₂ and H₂ was made by differential scanning calorimetry. The heat of hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene by HM(CO)₃C₅H₅ for M = Cr, Mo, and W was measured by solution calorimetry. The enthalpies of iodination of [M(CO)₃C₅H₅]₂ and HM(CO)₃C₅H₅ were measured for M = Mo and W. These data have been used to calculate the heats of hydrogenation for each of the metal-metal bonded dimers, [M(CO)₃C₅H₅]₂ (M = Cr, Mo, and W). C₅H₅(CO)₃M-M(CO)₃C₅H₅(s) + H₂(g) → 2HM(CO)₃C₅H₅(s). Addition of hydrogen has been found to be exothermic for M = Cr, W (-3.3 kcal/mol and -1.5 kcal/mole, respectively) but endothermic for M = Mo (+6.3 kcal/mol). These results are consistent with the trend of increasing MH bond strengths upon descending Group VI. Addition of H₂ to [Cr(CO)₃C₅H₅]₂ is favored by the unusually weak chromium-chromium bond.