The photoelectron spectra of hexamethyltungsten and pentamethyltantalum

Abstract

The He I and He II photoelectron spectra of an authentic sample of hexamethyltungsten and of pentamethyltantalum are consistent with octahedral symmetry for the former and D_3h symmetry for the latter; the metal-to-carbon bonding appears to be mainly d and s in character with a little p contribution, and there is evidence for steric interaction between the methyl groups of WMe₆.