2.01 | Ligand Classes and Electron Counts

Monday May 15th 2023 | In this class we continue our study with the different ligand classes that are important in organometallic chemistry. In the previous class we discussed phosphines and Amines and in this class we will study the following additional classes (i) Diatomic Molecules such as CO, NO, and CN’ (ii) Dihydrogen and Hydrides as ligands; (iii) π-conjugated systems as ligands; (iv) and finally Fischer and Schrock carbenes. We analyzed their frontier molecular orbitals from their corresponding MO-diagrams and discovered their reactivity as a function thereof. After establishing these important ligand classes we quickly recapped on the L, X, and Z-type ligand, where we discussed the importance of back-bonding in the Dewarr-Duncanson-Chatt model. Finally we started to provide an overview over all the major classes of ligands, their coordination modes, and the amount of electrons they provide by using the covalent model of electron counting.

The link to the video is given below: