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Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

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...

Coordination Number and Geometry

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.

Metal-Ligand Bonds

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...

Covalent Bonds

Covalent Bonds

Network Covalent Solids

Network Covalent Solids

Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...

DNA as a Genetic Template

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Characterizing Porous Materials for Aiding the Development of Robust Metal-Organic Frameworks with Adsorption Behavior

Author Spotlight: Characterizing Porous Materials for Aiding the Development of Robust Metal-Organic Frameworks with Adsorption Behavior

Published on: March 8, 2024

Selective on-surface covalent coupling based on metal-organic coordination template.

Shuaipeng Xing¹, Zhe Zhang², Xiyu Fei³

¹Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research and School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China.

Nature Communications

|January 10, 2019

Summary

Researchers precisely synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon nanoribbons using metal-organic coordination templating. This method controls on-surface reactions, yielding pure organic nanostructures with atomic precision for advanced nanomaterials.

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Microfluidic-based Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks COFs: A Tool for Continuous Production of COF Fibers and Direct Printing on a Surface

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Surface Functionalization of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Improved Moisture Resistance

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Published on: September 5, 2018

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Organic Chemistry

Background:

Precise control over on-surface reactions is essential for atomic-level construction of conjugated nanostructures.
Existing methods like aryl-aryl coupling often lead to inhomogeneous structures.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate a selective on-surface covalent coupling reaction templated by metal-organic coordinative bonding.
To achieve a porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanoribbon structure with atomic precision.

Main Methods:

Utilizing Fe-terpyridine (tpy) coordination motif to template the reaction.
Employing scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) for structural analysis.
Performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for mechanistic insights.

Main Results:

The Fe-tpy coordination motif successfully controlled molecular conformation and reaction pathways.
Achieved pure organic sexipyridine-p-phenylene nanoribbons, avoiding inhomogeneous polymorphic structures.
Demonstrated the template effect of Fe-tpy coordination on on-surface covalent coupling.

Conclusions:

Metal-organic coordination bonding provides effective templating for on-surface reactions.
This approach enables the rational design and synthesis of functional conjugated nanomaterials.
Achieved atomic precision in creating porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanoribbons.