Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Valence Bond Theory

Valence Bond Theory

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...

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory
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...

Colors and Magnetism

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...

Structural Isomerism

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...

Halogenation of Alkenes

Halogenation of Alkenes

Halogenation is the addition of chlorine or bromine across the double bond in an alkene to yield a vicinal dihalide. The reaction occurs in the presence of inert and non-nucleophilic solvents, such as methylene chloride, chloroform, or carbon tetrachloride.
Consider the bromination of cyclopentene. Molecular bromine is polarized in the proximity of the π electrons of cyclopentene. An electrophilic bromine atom adds across the double bond, forming a cyclic bromonium ion intermediate.

Properties of Organometallic Compounds

Properties of Organometallic Compounds

Organometallic compounds are compounds that contain a carbon–metal bond. Carbon belongs to an organyl group like alkyl, aryl, allyl, or benzyl groups. The metal can be from Group I or Group II of the periodic table, a transition metal, or a semimetal.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Ni(DQ)<sub>2</sub>: A Useful Gateway to Zero-Valent Nickel Complexes.

Organometallics·2026

Same author

Three-State Electrochiroptical Switches Derived from Chiral Stable Carbenes.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Using Diffusely Charged Bridging Ligands to Maximize Single-Ion Anisotropy and Dipolar Coupling in Dinuclear ErCOT Molecular Magnets.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Generation of mono(amino)carbenes from <i>N</i>-triftosyl amino hydrazonates with blue light.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2026

Same author

Utilizing Single-Crystalline Transformations for Precise Atom Placement in Multicomponent Cluster-Based Coordination Networks.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025

Same author

Carboranes with Exopolyhedral Boron-Tetrel Bonds.

Organometallics·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals

Published on: April 19, 2019

Tuning electronic structure through halide modulation of mesoionic carbene cobalt complexes.

Alex J Mantanona¹, Daniel R Tolentino¹, Kristine S Cay¹

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. jrinehart@ucsd.edu.

Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)

|February 13, 2020

Summary

The study introduces novel cobalt(II) complexes with mesoionic carbenes (MICs), revealing a unique electronic influence on tetrahedral cobalt. The findings highlight how MICs and halide ligands tune the electronic properties of these cobalt complexes.

More Related Videos

Combining Solid-state and Solution-based Techniques: Synthesis and Reactivity of ChalcogenidoplumbatesII or IV

Combining Solid-state and Solution-based Techniques: Synthesis and Reactivity of ChalcogenidoplumbatesII or IV

Published on: December 29, 2016

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Published on: October 5, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals

Published on: April 19, 2019

Combining Solid-state and Solution-based Techniques: Synthesis and Reactivity of ChalcogenidoplumbatesII or IV

Combining Solid-state and Solution-based Techniques: Synthesis and Reactivity of ChalcogenidoplumbatesII or IV

Published on: December 29, 2016

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Published on: October 5, 2019

Area of Science:

Inorganic Chemistry
Organometallic Chemistry

Background:

Mesoionic carbenes (MICs) are a unique class of ligands with tunable electronic properties.
Tetrahedral cobalt(II) complexes are important in various catalytic and magnetic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and characterize the first examples of cobalt(II) complexes featuring mesoionic carbene ligands.
To investigate the electronic effects of MIC ligands on tetrahedral cobalt(II) centers.
To explore the influence of coordinated halides on the electronic properties of these complexes.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of cobalt(II) complexes with MIC ligands and varying halides (Cl-, Br-, I-).
Absorption spectroscopy to probe electronic transitions.
Magnetometry to determine magnetic properties.

Main Results:

Successful synthesis of novel Co(II)-MIC complexes (CoX2DippMIC2).
Demonstration of a significant electronic perturbation induced by the MIC ligand on the tetrahedral Co(II) center.
Analysis of the strong σ-donating and minimal π-accepting nature of the MIC ligand.
Evidence of tunability of electronic properties by the coordinated halide (Cl-, Br-, I-).

Conclusions:

The study presents the first Co(II) complexes with MIC ligands, expanding the scope of known MIC coordination chemistry.
The strong σ-donating ability of MICs significantly perturbs the electronic structure of tetrahedral Co(II) complexes.
The electronic properties of these novel complexes can be fine-tuned by modifying the halide ligand.