Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 14, 2026
X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects
Published on: June 8, 2016
Crystal structure of paddle-wheel sandwich-type [Cu2{(CH3)2CO}{μ-Fe(η(5)-C5H4C N)2}3](BF4)2·(CH3)2CO
Frank Strehler1, Marcus Korb1, Heinrich Lang1
1Technische Universität Chemnitz, Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften, Institut für Chemie, Anorganische Chemie, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany.
Abstract:
The mol-ecular structure of (acetone-κO)tris-(μ-ferrocene-1,1'-dicarbo-nitrile-κ(2) N:N')dicopper(I) bis-(tetra-fluorido-borate) acetone monosolvate, [Cu2Fe3(C6H4N)6(C3H6O)](BF4)2·C3H6O, consists of two Cu(I) ions bridged by a ferrocene-1,1'-dicarbo-nitrile moiety in a paddle-wheel-architectured sandwich complex with two BF4 (-) units as counter-ions. One of the latter is equally disordered over two sets of sites. The two Cu(I) ions are complexed in a trigonal-planar manner by three nitrile N-donor atoms. Further inter-actions by the O atom of an acetone mol-ecule to one of the Cu(I) atoms and a weak η(2),π-inter-action of two atoms of a cyclo-penta-dienyl ring to the other Cu(I) atom complete a distorted trigonal-pyramidal environment for each of the metal ions. A further acetone mol-ecule is also present as a solvent mol-ecule. The crystal packing is consolidated by several π-π inter-actions.
Related Concept Videos
02:58Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than...
02:37Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and...
02:42Valence Bond Theory
02:42Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
03:02Colors 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...