Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: July 21, 2011
Paramagnetic metal complexes of diamido donor ligands
Cassandra E Hayes1, Daniel B Leznoff
1Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6.
Abstract:
Recently, considerable attention has been given to the use of multi-dentate amido ligands in the coordination chemistry of a range of transition metals as a means of accessing novel structural motifs and unusual reactivity. Presented herein is a perspective on transition and f-block metal complexes containing diamido donor ligands of the general form [NDN](2-) (D = NR, O, PR). Particular focus is given to paramagnetic metals, which have in general been studied much less than their diamagnetic counterparts despite their potential to exhibit unique structures and diverse reactivity patterns, in addition to their magnetic properties.
Related Concept Videos
Metal-Ligand Bonds
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...
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Valence Bond Theory
Colors and Magnetism
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.
Complexometric Titration: Ligands
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties

