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Related Concept Videos

Coordination Number and Geometry02:57

Coordination Number and Geometry

For transition metal complexes, the coordination number determines the geometry around the central metal ion. Table 1 compares coordination numbers to molecular geometry. The most common structures of the complexes in coordination compounds are octahedral, tetrahedral, and square planar.
Colors and Magnetism03:02

Colors and Magnetism

Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature02:54

Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

In most main group element compounds, the valence electrons of the isolated atoms combine to form chemical bonds that satisfy the octet rule. For instance, the four valence electrons of carbon overlap with electrons from four hydrogen atoms to form CH4. The one valence electron leaves sodium and adds to the seven valence electrons of chlorine to form the ionic formula unit NaCl (Figure 1a). Transition metals do not normally bond in this fashion. They primarily form coordinate covalent bonds, a...
Structural Isomerism02:34

Structural Isomerism

Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Metal-Ligand Bonds02:51

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Ladder Diagrams: Complexation Equilibria01:07

Ladder Diagrams: Complexation Equilibria

Ladder diagrams are useful for evaluating equilibria involving metal-ligand complexes. The vertical scale of the ladder diagram represents the concentration of unreacted or free ligand, pL. The horizontal lines on the scale depict the log of stepwise formation constants for metal-ligand complexes and indicate the dominant species in all the regions.
The formation constant, K1, for the formation of Cd(NH3)2+ complex from cadmium and ammonia is 3.55 × 102. Log K1 (i.e. pNH3) is 2.55, and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
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Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

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(2,2'-Biquinoline-kappa2N,N')bis(nitrato-kappa2O,O')copper(II).

Yanko Moreno1, Yimmy Salgado, María Teresa Garland

  • 1Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 233, Concepción, Chile. ymoreno@udec.cl

Acta Crystallographica. Section C, Crystal Structure Communications
|November 9, 2007
PubMed
Summary

This study details the distorted coordination geometry of a copper(II) complex, [Cu(NO3)2(C18H12N2)], revealing significant asymmetry due to Jahn-Teller effects. The findings highlight challenges in modeling highly distorted coordination polyhedra in inorganic chemistry.

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Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR

Published on: December 16, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Coordination Chemistry
  • Crystallography

Background:

  • Copper(II) complexes are known for exhibiting Jahn-Teller distortions.
  • Understanding coordination geometry is crucial for predicting complex properties.
  • Biquinoline and nitrate ligands offer unique coordination possibilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the crystal structure and coordination environment of the title monomer, [Cu(NO3)2(C18H12N2)].
  • To investigate the nature of the Jahn-Teller distortion in this specific copper(II) complex.
  • To assess the applicability of standard coordination models to highly distorted polyhedra.

Main Methods:

  • Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was employed to determine the molecular structure.
  • Analysis of bond lengths, angles, and coordination geometry.
  • Interpretation of structural data in the context of electronic effects like Jahn-Teller distortion.

Main Results:

  • The six-coordinated Cu(II) atom is situated on a twofold axis.
  • The coordination polyhedron exhibits extreme distortion, with asymmetric nitrate binding.
  • The observed asymmetry is consistent with a Jahn-Teller distortion.

Conclusions:

  • The copper(II) complex displays a highly distorted coordination polyhedron due to triple chelation and Jahn-Teller effects.
  • The asymmetric nitrate coordination is a key feature of this distortion.
  • Standard coordination models are inadequate for describing such extremely distorted geometries.