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Molecular Examples

  • Page ID
    520
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    Coordination Number 2

    The linear [Ag(NH3)2]+ ion

    Although [Ag(en)]ClO4 involves a normally bidentate ligand, in this case the structure is polymeric and the silver ion still retains a CN=2 with the N atoms (from different ligands) at ~180 degrees to each other.

    Coordination Number 3

    Trigonal planar - D3h

    [Cu(CN)3]2-

    [Cu(PPh3)2Br]

    To help view more easily, the H atoms are turned off.

    Trigonal pyramid

    T-shaped

    [Rh(PPh3)3]+

    To help view more easily, the H atoms are turned off.

    Coordination Number 4

    Tetrahedral

    Copyr2Cl2

    Square Planar

    cisplatin - cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2

    The cis- isomer is a powerful anti-cancer drug whereas the trans- is inactive.

    Coordination Number 5

    Square pyramid

    Trigonal Bipyramid

    [Ni(CN)5]3-

    Coordination Number 6

    Hexagonal planar

    Trigonal prism

    tris(cis-1,2-diphenylethene-1,2-dithiolato)rhenium

    The ReS6 geometry is perfectly trigonal prismatic.

    Octahedral

    Hexol

    The first 'truly' inorganic complex to be resolved into its optical isomers.

    [Co(en)3]Cl3

    mirror images

    The classic example of optical isomerism in octahedral coordination complexes (H atoms not shown).

    [Co(NH3)5CO3]+

    Coordination Number 7

    Capped octahedron (C3v)

    K3[NbOF6]

    Capped trigonal prism (C2v)

    [V(III)(Hedta)(H2O)]H2O

    Pentagonal Bipyramid (D5h)

    bis-(tert-butylacac)2(DMSO)di-oxoUranium

    The UO7 geometry fits a pentagonal bipyramid.

    Coordination Number 8

    Dodecahedron (D2d)

    Zr(acac)2(NO3)2

    [Zr(C2O4)4]4- is reported to have this shape as well.

    Cube (Oh)

    Square antiprism (D4d)

    U(acac)4

    Hexagonal bipyramid (D6h)

    UO2(OAc)3

    Coordination Number 9

    Three-face centred trigonal prism (D3h)

    Hydrated salts of the lanthanide elements eg Eu(H2O)9]3+

    Coordination Number 10

    Bicapped square antiprism (D4d)

    Tetrakis(nitrato-O,O')-bis(triphenylphosphine oxide) cerium(IV)

    Another example is [Ce(NO3)5]2-

    Coordination Number 11

    All-faced capped trigonal prism (D3h)

    This is not a common stereochemistry.
    In aqua-(12-crown-4)-tris(nitrato-O,O')-cerium(III) (12-crown-4) solvate and (15-crown-5)-tris(nitrato-O,O')-cerium(III) the Cerium ion is 11 coordinate.

    Coordination Number 12

    cuboctahedron (Oh)

    Ceric ammonium nitrate -(NH4)2Ce(NO3)6

    Contributors and Attributions

    • Prof. Robert J. Lancashire (The Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies)

    Molecular Examples is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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