This activity guides students into building a Molecular Orbital diagram, which focuses on metal-centered orbitals of mostly d character, for a square pyramidal complex that includes different types of ligands. Students are then asked to "fill" the resulting orbitals with metal d electrons, and examine the stability of the complex.
This literature discussion is designed for upper-level inorganic chemistry students. The article explores the motivations, design, and characterization of novel nickel(II) and nickel(IV) complexes for carbon-heteroatom bond forming reactions. Students can apply and integrate their knowledge of organic chemistry mechanisms, organometallic chemistry, and techniques for characterizing metal-ligand compounds that include NMR and CV.
This literature activity is designed to introduce students to the concept of outer-sphere hydroboration catalytic reactions. It can be used after hydrogenation and hydroboration reactions have been introduced in class (typically covered in organic chemistry). Additionally, this activity allows students to apply their understanding of redox chemistry, acid base chemistry, and physical techniques to characterize products and elucidate reactions mechanisms.
Electron counting exercise motivated by a recent paper (J. Am. Chem.
In-class exercise that helps students learn how to use structural data and other experimental methods to assign structure. Using chemical intuition, students will rationalize the structures of metal complexes that differ by protonation states.
In this literature discussion, students read an Inorganic Chemistry paper (doi: 10.1021/ic503062w) about diarylamido-based PNZ pincer ligands and their Ni, Pd, and Rh complexes. Specifically, this paper uses IR and E1/2 potentials to demonstrate that the redox events occur not on the metal center but on the pincer ligands.
This is an overview of some important principles of ligand design. Topics covered include HSAB theory, the chelate effect, the chelate ring size effect, the macrocyclic effect, the cryptate effect, and steric focus in ligand design.
This activity introduces students to fundamental types of organometallic reactions, and directs them to examine how each of these reactions affects the total electron count for the organometallic complex and the oxidation state of the central metal. Students are then directed to use these reactions to build a sequence of steps for a catalytic cycle.
The Committee on Professional Training (CPT) has restructured accreditation of Chemistry-related degrees, removing the old model of one year each of General, Analytical, Organic, and Physical Chemistry plus other relevant advanced classes as designed by the individual department. The new model (2008) requires one semester each in the five Foundation areas: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry, leaving General Chemistry as an option, with the development of advanced classes up to the individual departments.
This in-class worksheet introduces students to the different ways we describe organometallic ligands – bonding, properties, spectroscopy, etc. – using carbon monoxide as an example. It is structured as an inquiry-based activity, where students work together in small groups but check in with the entire class at appropriate intervals. I plan to use this activity with my advanced inorganic students next year.