Stoichiometric H2 production from H2O upon Mn2(CO)10 photolysis

Photolysis of Mn2(CO)10 in an alkane/water biphasic system has resulted in the generation of 1.80 ± 0.16 mol of hydrogen per mol of Mn2(CO)10. Various studies including deuteration have indeed shown water to be the H2 source while kinetic studies have indicated a strong correlation between the concentration of the key intermediate MnH(CO)5 with the production rate of H2. Some of the oxygen atoms of water have been incorporated into a white solid assigned to MnCO3. A mechanism accounting for MnH(CO)5 formation from Mn2(CO)10 photolysis and subsequently H2 production from MnH(CO)5 has been proposed.