Coordination chemistry

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Count electrons, including oxidation states, dn configuration and total valence electrons.
• Assign features of electronic spectra in transition metal complexes beyond d1.
• Use group theory to predict vibrational modes of molecules and construct bonding diagrams for transition metal complexes.
• Explain various aspects of transition metal chemistry including interactions with different ligand types, differences between 3d and 4d/5d systems, metal-metal bonding, reaction types and mechanisms, and behaviour of metal-carbon bonds.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Set up glassware and apparatus to conduct experiments in Inorganic Chemistry.
• Evaluate the risks associated with an experiment and understand how to mitigate against those risks.
• Interpret data from a range of physical techniques to characterise inorganic compounds.

Ligand Field Theory: Group theory for vibrational prediction and SALCs; Ligand types; 4d/5d Metal properties and metal-metal bonding.

Reaction types and mechanisms in Transition Metal chemistry; TM reaction types – Substitution, ligand exchange rate and electron transfer; Electronic spectroscopy beyond d1.

Organometallic chemistry: 18 electron rule and electron counting; Reaction types – oxidative addition, reductive elimination, insertion, migration etc; Alkyls and alkenes; Basic intro to catalytic cycles; Main group organometallics.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, small group tutorials and laboratory sessions.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

C. E. Housecroft and A. G. Sharpe (2018). Inorganic Chemistry.

F. A. Cotton, G. Wilkinson, M. Bochmann and C. Murillo (1998). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry.

J. S. Ogden. Introduction to molecular symmetry.

Assessment strategy

Final exam, tutorials and laboratory marks.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External