Download Nomenclature for d-block complexes Writing chemical names

4-1
Nomenclature for d-block complexes
(also known as, “how to name compounds and write formulae”)
Writing chemical formulae
(a) Neutral compounds:
Metal first, followed by ligands in alphabetical order (of the
name of the ligand, not its formula)
Stereochemical indicators as needed, in front of formula
For ligands with formulae, either bracket the ligand formula or use shorthand notation for
the ligand (the latter is preferred if the ligand has a reasonably common shorthand name)
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List of ligand abbreviations you need to know
(ligands not on this list should just be indicated by their molecular formula)
Acetylacetonato
Cyclopentadienide
2,2-bipyiridine
1,10-phenanthroline
Terpyridine
Ethylenediamine
Diethylenetriamine
Pyridine
1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane
1,2-dimethoxyethane
Methyl
Trialkyl or triaryl phosphine
Carboxylate
Triethylene tetraamine
acac
Cp
bipy
phen
terpy
en
dien
py
dppe
dme
Me
R3P (R = Me, Ph, etc)
RCO2 (R = …..)
trien
4-3
Nomenclature for d-block complexes
(also known as, “how to name compounds and write formulae”)
Writing chemical formulae
(a) Ionic complexes:
Same as for neutral, but use square brackets to enclose ions.
For complete complexes (in which both cation and anion are
shown), cation(s) comes first followed by anion(s).
If only one of the two ions is “complex”, that ion can be shown by
itself with charge indicated (and the understanding that the “real”
compound must have counter-ions for charge balance).
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Nomenclature for d-block complexes
Writing chemical names
For “simple” compounds (only one ligand type, common/simple ligand, neutral), the metal
comes first followed by the ligands. Oxidation state of metal indicated.
TiCl4
Titanium (IV) chloride, or titanium tetrachloride
CuSO4 Copper (II) sulfate
Oxidation number of metal – review Chem 222
(we’ll quickly review this later on)
For most complexes, the ligands are written first (alphabetical) and metal last (with oxidation
state indicated after the metal name). Number of each ligand indicated by prefixes:
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
“simple” ligand*
monoditritetrapentahexa-
*All monoatomic ligands
Polyatomic ligands with short names
Neutral ligands with special names
“complex” ligand**
mono- (or no prefix)
bistristetrakispentakishexakis*Ligands already containing a prefix (triphenylphosphine)
Neutral ligands without special names
Ionic ligands with particularly long names (> 2 syllables)
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Nomenclature for d-block complexes
Writing chemical names
Neutral (L) ligands are named as the free ligand.
Exceptions:
Free ligand
Carbon monoxide, CO
Ammonia, NH3
Water, H2O
Oxide, O2-
ligand name in complex
carbonyl
ammine
aquo
oxo
Anionic (X) ligands have suffix changed to end in “-o”
Free ligand ending
ligand name in complex
-ide
-ido
-ite
-ito
-ate
-ato
example
dimethylamide / dimethylamido
sulfite/ sulfito
acetate/acetato
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Nomenclature for d-block complexes
Writing chemical names
Exceptions for anionic (X) ligands:
Free ligand
Halides (F-, Cl- Br-, I-)
Hydroxide
Cyanide
Examples for neutral compounds
ligand name in complex
halo (e.g. fluoro, chloro, etc)
hydroxo
cyano (if C-bound)
isocyano (if N-bound)
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Nomenclature for d-block complexes
Writing chemical names
If the complex is cationic, the names for the counter-anions are added after the name of the
complex cation
Examples for cationic compounds
[Cr(NH3)6]3+
[Cr(NH3)6].3Cl-
[Cu(NCCH3)4] +
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Nomenclature for d-block complexes
Writing chemical names
If the complex is anionic: name cations first then anions (just like for cationic complexes
BUT the suffix of the metal is changed to –ate.
For most metals ending in –ium, -um, or –ese, replace with –ate
e.g. manganese  manganite
ruthenium  ruthenate
Exceptions
anionic complex name
ferrate
cobaltate
nickelate
cuprate
zincate
molybdate
argentite
tungstate
aurate
mercurate
metal
Iron
cobalt
nickel
copper
zinc
molybdenum
silver
tungsten
gold
mercury
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Nomenclature for d-block complexes
Examples for anionic complexes
[Fe(CN)6]3K3[Fe(CN)6]
CuCl2
[CuCl2][CuCl2]2-
4-10
Nomenclature for d-block complexes
Writing chemical names
For pi bonded ligands, include the hapticity in front of the ligand name.