Magnetism, electronic spectra, and structure of transition metal alkoxides. I. methoxides and ethoxides of chromium(II), manganese(II), Iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), titanium(III), chromium(III), and iron(III)
The magnetic moments and electronic spectra are reported for the following divalent transition metal methoxides: Cr(OCH3)2, Mn(OCH3)2, Fe(OCH3)2, Co(OCH3)2, Ni(OCH3)2, and Cu(OCH3)2. These measurements when coupled with the involatility and insolubility of the compounds favour structures based on infinite lattices composed either of regular (Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) or distorted (Cr and Cu) MO6 octahedra. The spectral data place the ligand field parameter, Δ, for the methoxide group very close to that of water.