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Valence Bond Theory

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Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Thermochemical Studies of NiII and ZnII Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Thermochemical Studies of NiII and ZnII Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Published on: June 8, 2022

Stable bis(trifluoromethyl)nickel(III) complexes.

Fengzhi Tang¹, Nigam P Rath, Liviu M Mirica

¹Department of Chemistry, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130-4899, USA. mirica@wustl.edu.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)

|January 20, 2015

Summary

Researchers synthesized and characterized stable organometallic Nickel(III) complexes with trifluoromethyl ligands. These complexes, derived from Nickel(II) precursors, show limited reactivity, advancing organometallic chemistry.

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Area of Science:

Organometallic Chemistry
Nickel Catalysis
Synthetic Chemistry

Background:

Organometallic Nickel(III) intermediates are crucial in cross-coupling reactions.
Previously, no isolated bis(hydrocarbyl)Ni(III) complexes were reported.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and characterize stable organometallic Ni(III) complexes.
To investigate the properties of Ni(III) complexes with trifluoromethyl ligands.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of Ni(III) complexes supported by tetradentate N-donor ligands (R)N4.
Detailed characterization of the synthesized complexes.
Oxidation of Ni(II) precursors to generate Ni(III) species.

Main Results:

Successful synthesis and characterization of stable organometallic Ni(III) complexes containing two trifluoromethyl ligands.
Ni(II) precursors readily oxidized to form the Ni(III) complexes, including via aerobic oxidation.
The resulting Ni(III) complexes exhibit limited reactivity.

Conclusions:

Stable organometallic Ni(III) complexes with trifluoromethyl ligands have been synthesized for the first time.
These findings provide new insights into the stability and reactivity of Ni(III) species in organometallic chemistry.
The reported complexes offer a platform for further studies in nickel-catalyzed reactions.