Definition of Molecular Configuration by the Use of π*←π Shakeup Satellites in the X-Ray Photoelectron Spectra of Oxygen-Bridged binuclear Copper(II) Complexes

Abstract

X-Ray photoelectron spectoscopy has been used to study the structure and bonding of Binuclear oxygen-bridged copper(II) complexes. The aromatic onstituency of the complexes gives rise to π*←π shakeup satellites in the spectra of the ring carbons and the adjacent oxygen atoms. The O ls π*←π shakeup satellite peak positions were determined relative to the main core level lines in samples with known structure, allowing alkoxy and phenoxy bridging to be differentiated. The methodology was applied to a Binuclear copper(II) o-hydroxybenzylamine complex of previously undefined molecular structure.