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14.1: Reactions Involving Gain or Loss of Ligands

  • Page ID
    392515
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    Many reactions of organometallic complexes involve change in coordination number. In a dissociation reaction, one or more ligands are eliminated from the complex and the coordination number decreases. In an association, one or more ligands are added to the complex and the coordination number increases. If the coordination number changes while the metal oxidation state remains constant, the reactions are considered association/addition reactions or dissociation reactions. Reactions can also occur where the coordination number changes while the metal oxidation state also changes. These reactions are considered reductive eliminations or oxidative additions (or a combination of these).

    Types of reactions involving gain or loss of ligands
    • Association or Addition Reaction: a reaction in which the coordination number increases; metal oxidation state is unchanged.
    • Dissociation Reaction: a reaction in which the coordination number decreases; metal oxidation state is unchanged.
    • Oxidative Addition: a reaction in which coordination number increases while metal oxidation state increases.
    • Reductive Elimination: a reaction in which coordination number decreases while metal oxidation state decreases.


    This page titled 14.1: Reactions Involving Gain or Loss of Ligands is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kathryn Haas.

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