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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...

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...

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...

Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes

Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes

In complexation reactions, metal cations are the electron pair acceptors, and the ligands are the electron pair donors. The stability of the metal complexes depends primarily on the complexing ability of the central metal ion and the nature of the ligands. Generally, the complexing ability of the metal ion depends on the size and charge of the ion. As the metal ion size increases, the stability of the metal complexes decreases, provided that the valency of the metal ion and the ligands remain...

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.

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2025

Synthesis of a Water-soluble Metal–Organic Complex Array

Synthesis of a Water-soluble Metal–Organic Complex Array

Published on: October 8, 2016

Synthetic approaches to metal-coordination-directed macrocyclic complexes.

Qingqing Fang¹, Yan Xu^1,2, Xiaosheng Yan^1,3

¹Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, and iChEM, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

Frontiers in Chemistry

|December 12, 2022

Summary

This review details methods for creating predictable metal-coordination macrocyclic complexes using foldable or amphiphilic ligands. These supramolecular scaffolds are promising for biosensing and therapeutic applications.

Keywords:

amphiphiles foldable ligands macrocycles metal coordination synthesis

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Last Updated: Aug 17, 2025

Synthesis of a Water-soluble Metal–Organic Complex Array

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Published on: October 8, 2016

Author Spotlight: Experimental Approaches for the Synthesis of Low-Valent Metal-Organic Frameworks from Multitopic Phosphine Linkers

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Constructing Cyclic Peptides Using an On-Tether Sulfonium Center

Constructing Cyclic Peptides Using an On-Tether Sulfonium Center

Published on: September 28, 2022

Area of Science:

Supramolecular Chemistry
Materials Science

Background:

Metal-coordination-directed macrocyclic complexes are attractive supramolecular scaffolds.
Current synthetic methods often result in uncontrolled multicyclic cages and linear polymers.

Purpose of the Study:

To review state-of-the-art synthetic approaches for metal-coordination-directed macrocyclic complexes.
To provide a guideline for efficient preparation of macrocyclic complexes with controllable structures.

Main Methods:

Utilizing foldable ligands for macrocycle formation.
Employing assembly of amphiphilic ligands.

Main Results:

Demonstrated strategies for controlled synthesis of macrocyclic complexes.
Highlighted the importance of ligand design in achieving desired architectures.

Conclusions:

Efficient preparation of metal-coordination-directed macrocyclic complexes is achievable.
These complexes hold potential for applications in biosensing and therapeutics.