XPS study of the electron structure of heterometallic trinuclear complexes Fe2M(μ3-O)(μ-Piv)6(HPiv)3 (MMn, Co, Ni)

Electron structure of pivalate heterometallic trinuclear complexes with a triangular structure and varying ligands environment is studied by the XPS method. An effect of substitution of one of the Fe atoms by MMn, Co, Ni on Fe2p and M2p spectra is studied. Redistribution of electron density in an OCO group upon formation of complexes and introduction of donor ligands is discovered. Correlation of the characteristics of photoelectron spectra with the variation of ligands environment is studied. The complexes are assigned to high-spin ones with Fe in oxidation state III, and M, II. A relation is established between Fe2p-spectra characteristics and electron affinity of M ions.