Chapter 2: Structure of Metal Complexes

The chemistry of transition metal complexes, which exhibit a wide variety of chemical and physical properties, is the result of combinations of the various electronic states of metal centres containing d- and f-electrons and the diversity of ligand systems and structures including inorganic, organic and bio-related compounds. In order to understand the structure of transition metal complexes, this chapter first introduces basic concepts of the electronic and physical properties of metal ions and shows representative mono-, bi- and multidentate ligands. The geometric structures of metal complexes are then systematically explained by following the coordination number of mononuclear complexes, and some di-, tri- and multinuclear metal complexes with and without metal–metal bonds are discussed. The isomerism observed in metal complexes and the resulting isomers, structural isomers and stereoisomers, is also explained focusing on the latter, which are divided into configurational and conformational isomers. Finally, the nomenclature of metal complexes is briefly discussed.