The problem with which this investigation is concerned is twofold. The initial part of the problem was to prepare a non-sterically demanding bidentate phosphine ligand, 1,2-bis-(Phosphino)ethane, (P-en), and to determine the kinetics of (P-en)Mo(CO)4 with phosphites via spectrophotometric methods in an attempt to determine if steric effects are directing the type of mechanism followed.

The recombination rate coefficient for molecular helium ions has been measured in a pulsed afterglow at 1.86 Torr as a function of electron temperature and electron density without making a priori assumptions about the functional dependence. The concentrations of the molecular ions and electrons were measured and the source terms for the molecular ions were included in the rate equation.

The oxidative elimination reactions of (5-X-phen)Mo(C0)₄ (X = H, CH₃, Cl, NO₂; phen = o-phenanthroline) and (3,4,7,8-(CH₃)₄-phen)Mo(CO)₄ with mercuric chloride in acetone have been investigated. In these reactions, a carbon monoxide group is replaced by two univalent ligands, accompanied by the corresponding increase in coordination number and formal oxidation state of the central metal atom, to give products of the type, (X-phen)Mo(CO)₃(Cl)HgCl. With the exception of (3,4,7,8-(CH₃)₄-phen), the substituted o-phenanthrolines were selected so as to minimize steric differences from one substrate to another while obtaining the widest range of pKₐ of the ligand.

A series of oxovanadium(IV) complexes of Schiff bases derived from substituted salicylaldehyde and aminoalcohols has been prepared and characterized. The Schiff bases coordinate through 0, N, and 0 as tridentate bivalent ligands. The primary purpose of the investigation is to describe the structure and bonding in these complexes. The subnormal magnetic properties of the complexes provide much information about both the structure and the bonding in the complexes.