IR Spectroscopy of Rhodium Carbonyl Clusters
Description
The structures of neutral rhodium carbonyl clusters containing two, four, and six rhodium atoms have been known for some time. In a recent paper (J. Am. Chem.
Angular Overlap Model Spreadsheet
Description
This spreadsheet allows students to build complexes of a variety of geometries and to then use the angular overlap model to explore d-orbital energies when interacting with ligands whose esigma and epi energies can be varied.
http://academics.wellesley.edu/Chemistry/Flick/Excel/angoverlap.xls
Inorganic Challenges
Description
The Interactive Inorganic Challenge Forum is a resource for inorganic chemistry teachers who want to incorporate team learning questions (“Challenges”) into an upper level undergraduate inorganic course. Through this site, teachers can exchange their ideas with others who have used inorganic chemistry Challenges. As a result, students benefit from field-tested group questions.
Group 10 and 11 Metal Boratranes (Ni, Pd, Pt, CuCl, AgCl, AuCl, and Au+) Derived from a Triphosphine-Borane
Description
This is a guided set of questions for the paper: Group 10 and 11 Metal Boratranes (Ni, Pd, Pt, CuCl, AgCl,
AuCl, and Au+) Derived from a Triphosphine-Borane. It was used to help students integrate the study of a variety of techniques (for example NMR, X-ray, computational studies) and basic organometallic chemistry into reading a "real" paper.
AuCl, and Au+) Derived from a Triphosphine-Borane. It was used to help students integrate the study of a variety of techniques (for example NMR, X-ray, computational studies) and basic organometallic chemistry into reading a "real" paper.
Using Computational Chemistry to discuss backbonding to CO
Description
This activity uses Gaussian with the WebMO interface to investigate the role of the metal in backbonding to CO as well as effects of the trans ligands. It can also be used as a way of introducing computational chemistry in an inorganic course.
House: Inorganic Chemistry
Description
House (Inorganic chemistry): The book is divided into 5 parts: first, an introductory section on atomic structure, symmetry, and bonding; second, ionic bonding and solids; third, acids, bases and nonaqueous solvents; fourth, descriptive chemistry; and fifth, coordination chemistry. The first three sections are short, 2-4 chapters each, while the descriptive section (five chapters) and coordination chemistry section (seven chapters covering ligand field theory, spectroscopy, synthesis and reaction chemistry, organometallics, and bioinorganic chemistry.) are longer. Each chapter includes
Descriptive Inorganic, Coordination, and Solid-State Chemistry, 2nd ed. by Glen E. Rodgers
Description
The textbook "Descriptive Inorganic, Coordination, and Solid-State Chemistry" 2nd ed. by Glen E. Rodgers is intended for students who have completed a general chemistry course sequence. Knowledge of organic and physical chemistry is not assumed or required.
Werner From Beyond the Grave
Description
This short communication in 2001 established the structure of a dinuclear cobalt complex based on a single crystal X-ray diffraction study of crystals taken from the Werner collection. The X-ray structure clarified the nature of the bridging ligands including a bridging superoxo group. As such, it offers a nice entry point into the nomenclature of bridging ligands, a discussion of O2 related ligands such as peroxide and superoxide, and the evolution of characterization techniques from Werner's time to the present.
Fivefold Bonding in Cr(I) Dimer
Description
This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a Cr(I) dimer with a very short Cr-Cr distance. Computational studies support fivefold bonding between the chromium atoms. I have used this paper to introduce metal-metal multiple bonds and discuss the molecular orbital interactions of homonuclear diatomics including d-orbitals. More generally, it is a nice example to stimulate the discussion of what constitutes a bond and the various interpretations of bond order.
Werner's Nobel Prize Address
Description
Alfred Werner's Nobel prize address in 1913 offers a unique historical view on the development of coordination chemistry from the expert. With a bit of "translation" to modern terminology, this paper is very accessible to most students. Discussion of the address provides a useful introduction to coordination complexes including structure, isomers, and ligand substitution reactions.