Classification of Chemical Coordination

Introduction:

A metal or coordination complex is a structure which consist of a central atom or ion which is usually a metal being bonded to a molecules or anions array. Examples are ligands and complexing agents. Within a ligand, there is an atom that is directly bonded the atom in the centre or ion, this is called the donor atom. A chelate complex can be formed by polyadenylated ligand. At least one pair of electrons is donated by the ligand to the central atom/ion.

Compounds containing a coordination complex are called coordination compounds. The central atom or ion together with all ligands forms the coordination sphere.

Coordination points to the "coordinate covalent bonds" (dipolar bonds) between the ligands and the central atom.

Classification of Chemical Coordination

Metal complexes also known as coordination compounds; they consist of all metal compounds, aside from metal vapors, plasmas, and alloys. The study of "coordination chemistry" is the study of all alkali and alkaline earth metals, transition metals, lanthanides, actinides, and metalloids. Thus, coordination chemistry is the chemistry of majority of the periodic table. Metals and metal ions only exist in the condensed phases surrounded by ligands.

The different areas of coordination chemistry are classified according to the nature of the ligands. They are:

 1) Classical (or "Werner Complexes"): Ligands in classical coordination chemistry bind to metals via their "lone pairs" of electrons residing on the main group atoms of the ligand. Typical ligands are H2O, NH3, Cl−, CN−, en−

Examples: [Co(EDTA)]−, [Co(NH₃) ₆]Cl₃, [Fe(C₂O₄) ₃]K₃

2) Organo-metallic Chemistry: Ligands which are organic (alkenes, alkynes, alkyls) as well as "organic-like" ligands are found in organo-metallic chemistry like phosphines, hydride, and CO.

Example: (C₅H₅) Fe (CO) ₂CH₃

 3) Bioinorganic Chemistry: Ligands which are provided by nature, especially including the side chains of amino acids, and many cofactors such as porphyrins.

Example: hemoglobin.

Many natural ligands are Werner complexes especially including water.

4) Cluster Chemistry: Ligands which also include other metals as ligands.

Example Ru3(CO)12

Older classifications of isomerism

In the older literature, one encounters:

1) Ionisation isomerism states that the possible isomers arise from the exchange between the outer sphere and inner sphere. In this classification, the "outer sphere ligands," may combine with the "inner sphere ligands" to produce an isomer.

 2) Solvation isomerism occurs when an inner sphere ligand is replaced by a solvent molecule. This classification is absolute because it considers solvents as being distinct from other ligands.