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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...

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.

Extraction: Advanced Methods

Extraction: Advanced Methods

Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is...

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...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR

Published on: December 16, 2013

Copper(II) Complexes Derived from Halogen-Substituted Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis, Crystal Structures,

Tunde Lewis Yusuf¹, Ibrahim Waziri², Segun D Oladipo^3,4

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.

|November 10, 2025

Summary

Novel copper(II) complexes with Schiff base ligands show significant antibacterial activity against resistant bacteria. Complex 2 exhibits potent efficacy against Gram-positive strains, suggesting a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics.

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Last Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR

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Preparation of SNS CobaltII Pincer Model Complexes of Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase

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Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes

Published on: March 2, 2020

Area of Science:

Inorganic Chemistry
Medicinal Chemistry
Antimicrobial Research

Background:

Rising bacterial resistance necessitates novel antimicrobial agents.
Metal complexes offer unique mechanisms of action and potentially fewer side effects than organic antibiotics.
Schiff base ligands are versatile scaffolds for designing biologically active metal complexes.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and characterize novel copper(II) complexes with halogen-substituted Schiff base ligands.
To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of these complexes against key Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
To investigate the mechanism of action through molecular docking studies.

Main Methods:

Synthesis and characterization of six Cu(II) complexes using Fourier transform infrared, UV-vis, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
Antibacterial activity testing via broth microdilution against *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Streptococcus pyogenes*, *Escherichia coli*, and *Klebsiella pneumoniae*.
Molecular docking simulations targeting the topoisomerase IV receptor.

Main Results:

All six Cu(II) complexes were successfully synthesized and characterized, exhibiting square planar geometry.
The complexes displayed a range of antibacterial activities, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 15.63 and 125 μg/mL.
Complex 2 showed exceptional potency against *S. aureus* and *S. pyogenes* (MIC < 15.63 μg/mL), and docking studies supported target affinity.

Conclusions:

The synthesized copper(II) Schiff base complexes represent a promising class of novel antibacterial agents.
Complex 2 demonstrates significant potential for combating Gram-positive bacterial infections.
The findings support the use of metal complexes as a viable strategy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.