Vibrational dynamics of metal cyanides

Time-resolved IR spectroscopy has been used to characterize vibrational and rotational relaxation dynamics of the C–N stretching bands for aqueous molecular cyanides, Au ( CN ) 2 - , Ni ( CN ) 4 2 - , Pt ( CN ) 4 2 - , Co ( CN ) 6 3 - , Mn ( CN ) 6 3 - , and Ru ( CN ) 6 4 - . The spectra and dynamics of Ru ( CN ) 6 4 - resemble those previously reported for ferrocyanide with a relatively short (<10 ps) vibrational energy relaxation (VER) time. VER times are longer (>30 ps) for Au ( CN ) 2 - , Ni ( CN ) 4 2 - , Pt ( CN ) 4 2 - and Co ( CN ) 6 3 - . Mn ( CN ) 6 3 - is an intermediate case with a VER time of 15 ps in water. These VER dynamics extend and reinforce the trends for metal cyanide CN vibrational band frequencies and intensities.