Coordination Chemistry

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Use group theory to predict vibrational modes of molecules and construct bonding diagrams for transition metal complexes.
• Count electrons, including oxidation states, dn configuration and total valence electrons.
• Explain various aspects of transition metal chemistry including interactions with different ligand types, differences between 3d and 4d/5d systems, metal-metal bonding, reaction types and mechanisms, and behaviour of metal-carbon bonds.
• Assign features of electronic spectra in transition metal complexes beyond d1.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Meet the learning outcomes of a co-requisite practical module.

Ligand Field Theory: Group theory for vibrational prediction and SALCs; Ligand types; 4d/5d Metal properties and metal-metal bonding.

Reaction types and mechanisms in Transition Metal chemistry; TM reaction types – Substitution, ligand exchange rate and electron transfer; Electronic spectroscopy beyond d1.

Organometallic chemistry: 18 electron rule and electron counting; Reaction types – oxidative addition, reductive elimination, insertion, migration etc; Alkyls and alkenes; Basic intro to catalytic cycles; Main group organometallics.

Lectures, problem classes and small group tutorials.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.