The surface of inorganic oxides or zeolites as a nonconventional reaction medium for the selective synthesis of metal carbonyl complexes and clusters

This review covers syntheses of metal carbonyl complexes and clusters mediated by the surface of inorganic oxides. Emphasis is placed on syntheses which allow comparison of yields and reaction conditions with respect to traditional syntheses in solution, but many interesting surface-mediated syntheses without reported yields are also mentioned. The use of the silica surface is described first, followed by MgO, Al2O3, ZnO and La2O3. Brief mention is made of the synthesis of metal carbonyl clusters in the cages of zeolites, although this chemistry is not of synthetic value because the resultant clusters remain usually trapped in the cages (ship-in-bottle synthesis) and cannot be isolated. The role of the syntheses mediated by the surface of inorganic oxides as a spring of inspiration for syntheses of metal carbonyl clusters in solution is outlined.