MBrO

MBrO refers to a class of inorganic species with the formula MBrO, where a metal atom M is bonded to a bromine atom and an oxide (O) atom. The term is used for neutral metal oxybromide species, often encountered as gas-phase radicals in laboratory studies or theoretical investigations.

In most MBrO species, the metal center carries a relatively high oxidation state and forms bonds to both oxygen and bromine. The exact structure and bonding depend on the identity of M, leading to variations in geometry and electronic configuration. Many of these species are radicals with one or more unpaired electrons and can exist in several low-lying electronic states. Bond lengths and angles are influenced by the size and bonding preferences of the metal ion.

Formation and study: MBrO radicals are typically generated under controlled laboratory conditions, such as reactions between metal atoms and bromine-containing oxidants in the gas phase or in jet-cooled / supersonic expansions. They are investigated using spectroscopic methods—rotational, vibrational, and electronic spectroscopy—often complemented by quantum-chemical calculations to assign electronic states and bond metrics.

Relevance: Research on MBrO contributes to understanding metal–oxide–halide bonding, radical reaction dynamics, and the behavior of metal-containing species in atmospheric and combustion environments. These species are generally short-lived and challenging to isolate as bulk solids or liquids, but they offer insight into reaction mechanisms involving metal centers, oxygen, and halogens.

See also: BrO radical, metal oxyhalides, oxyhalides.