Aspects of the Energetics of Metal β-Diketonates and their Derivatives

In this chapter, we will discuss diverse aspects of the energetics of metal β-diketonates and their derivatives. By “energetics” we mean thermochemical and related studies, and so we include enthalpies of reaction and of formation as well as equilibrium measurements and stability constants. We will also discuss the gain or loss of an electron, and therefore consider ionization potentials, electron affinities, and electrochemical potentials. By metal β-diketonates and derivatives we mean, most generally, species with a substructure of the type [M(dik)n], where dik (β-diketonato) is an organic monovalent anion of structure (RC(X)C(R1)C(O)R2)− and M is an arbitrary metal. For completeness and additional insights, in this chapter we will also consider M to be virtually all elements (nonmetal, metalloid, or metal), and eventually we will include hydrogen. Keywords: acetylacetonates; diketonates; enthalpy; metal chelates; metal complexes; metalloid; nonmetal; thermochemistry