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5.17: Stereoisomers in Other Geometries- Octahedra

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    191241

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    Note

    This page shows examples of coordination complexes, in which a number of groups called "ligands" bond to a central metal atom or ion. For more information about these complexes, see the brief introduction here.

    Earlier we looked at cis- and trans-isomers in square planar platinum complexes. Other transition metal complexes display cis-trans isomerism. Octahedral complexes can also have two particular ligands adjacent to each other or on opposite sides of the metal atom. For example, the cation [(NH3)4CoCl2]+ has a cis-isomer and a trans-isomer.

    cis- and trans- isomers of tetraamine cobalt dichloride. In both, cobalt is the central atom. In the cis isomer, the planar groups are, clockwise from top, amine, amine, amine, and chlorine; the wedge group is amine and the dash group is chlorine. In the trans isomer, all four planar groups are amines and both wedge and dash groups are chlorines.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Cis- and trans-isomers of an octahedral cobalt compound.

    Go to Animation SC17.1. A three-dimensional model of cis-(NH3)4CoCl2.

    Go to Animation SC17.2. A three-dimensional model of trans-(NH3)4CoCl2.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Draw cis and trans isomers for the following compounds.

    a) [Cr(OH2)4Cl2]+ b) [Co(OH2)4(SCN)2]+ c) [Co(NH3)4(ONO)2]+ d) Pt(NH3)2Cl4 e) [Pt(NH3)4Cl2 ]2+

    Answer

    Answers to Exercise 5.17.1, a through e.

    Cis and trans isomers are found when there are two ligands whose spatial relationship can be described easily as "beside each other" or "across from each other". What if there are more than two ligands that can adopt different geometric arrangements around a metal?

    An example is found in the complex Co(NH3)3Cl3. In that compound, which has an octahedral geometry, the three chlorines might be found all in a row, or they might be found clustered into a triangle. When three ligands are found in a row on an octahedron, the geometry is called "meridional" or simply "mer". When the three cluster together in a triangle, the geometric relationship is called "facial" or simply "fac".

    Facial (left) and meridional (right) forms of tetraamine cobalt dichloride.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): The fac- and mer- configurations of (NH3)3CoCl3.

    Go to Animation SC17.3. A three-dimensional model of fac-(NH3)3CoCl3.

    Go to Animation SC17.4. A three-dimensional model of mer-(NH3)3CoCl3.

    The fac designation is derived from the location of the three ligands whose positions are being compared: they are all found along one of the faces of an octahedron.

    An octahedron superimposed over a generic complex ion with six ligands. Three ligands are labelled "X" and the other three are labelled "L". One face of the octahedron, with X at all three points, is highlighted in red.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Illustration of a facial relationship on an octahedron.

    The mer designation comes from the fact that the three ligands are found along one meridian. A meridian is simply a line from one apex of the compound all the way to the opposite apex. It is like a meridian on the earth, from the north pole to the south pole.

    A sphere superimposed over a generic complex ion with six ligands, three of which are labelled X and the other three are labelled L. One meridian of the sphere is drawn in, aligning with all three X ligands in line.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Illustration of a meridian along an octahedron.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Draw fac and mer isomers of the following compounds.

    1. RhCl3py3 (py is a six-membered ring with five carbons and a nitrogen)
    2. Mo(CO)3(PPh3)3
    3. Co(NH3)3(NO2)3
    Answer

    Answers to Exercise 5.17.2, a through c.

    Some of the compounds on this page demonstrate another type of isomerism. It is called "linkage isomerism" and it involves which of the atoms in the ligand is connected to the metal. For example, the atoms at either end of a thiocyanate ion, SCN-, both have lone pairs. One or the other might bind to a metal under different circumstances. The sulfur might be attached to the metal, or else it could be the nitrogen. These two options form two different linkage isomers.

    Often, to communicate which linkage isomer we are talking about, the desired isomer is indicated by placing the atom attached to the metal first in the formula of the compound. For example, writing the formula [Co(OH2)4(SCN)2]+ suggests the isomer in which the sulfur is attached to the cobalt. Writing the formula [Co(OH2)4(NCS)2]+ suggests the nitrogen is attached to the cobalt.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Draw structures for the following linkage isomers.

    1. [Co(NH3)4(NO2)2]+ and [Co(NH3)4(ONO)2]+
    2. [Co(OH2)4(SCN)2]+ and [Co(OH2)4(NCS)2]+
    3. [Cr(OH2)5(CN)]2+ and [Cr(OH2)5(NC)]2+

    This page titled 5.17: Stereoisomers in Other Geometries- Octahedra is shared under a CC BY-NC 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Chris Schaller via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.