Highly Unsaturated Platinum and Palladium Carbenes PtC₃ and PdC₃ Isolated and Characterized in the Gas Phase

Carbenes of platinum and palladium, PtC₃ and PdC₃, were generated in the gas phase through laser vaporization of a metal target in the presence of a low concentration of a hydrocarbon precursor undergoing supersonic expansion. Rotational spectroscopy and abinitio calculations confirm that both molecules are linear. The geometry of PtC₃ was accurately determined by fitting to the experimental moments of inertia of twenty-six isotopologues. The results are consistent with the proposal of an autogenic isolobal relationship between O, Au⁺, and Ptatoms. Walk the line: PtC₃ and PdC₃ carbenes have been generated in the gas phase through laser vaporization of a metal target in the presence of a low concentration of a hydrocarbon precursor undergoing supersonic expansion. Rotational spectroscopy and abinitio calculations confirm that both molecules are linear. Atom colors: Pt=yellow, C=blue.