Preface


Preamble


1 The Central Atom


1.1 Key Concepts in Coordination Chemistry

1.2 A Who's Who of Metal Ions

1.3 Metals in Molecules

1.4 The Road Ahead

Concept Keys

Further Reading


2 Ligands


2.1 Membership: Being a Ligand

2.2 Monodentate Ligands - The Simple Type

2.3 Greed is Good - Polydentate Ligands

2.4 Polynucleating Species - Molecular Bigamists

2.5 A Separate Race -- Organometallic Species

Concept Keys

Further Reading



3 Complexes


3.1 The Central Metal Ion

3.2 Metal-Ligand Marriage

3.3 Holding On -- The Nature of Bonding in Metal Complexes

3.4 Coupling - Polymetallic Complexes

3.5 Making Choices

3.6 Complexation Consequences

Concept Keys

Further Reading


4 Shape


4.1 Getting in Shape

4.2 Forms of Complex Life

4.3 Influencing Shape

4.4 Isomerism - Real 3D Effects

4.5 Sophisticated Shapes

4.6 Defining Shape

Concept Keys

Further Reading


5 Stability


5.1 The Makings of a Stable Relationship

5.2 Complexation - Will it Last?

5.3 Reactions

Concept Keys

Further Reading


6 Synthesis


6.1 Molecular Creation -- Ways to Make Complexes

6.2 Core Metal Chemistry -- Periodic Table Influences

6.3 Reactions Involving the Coordination Shell

6.4 Reactions Involving the Metal Oxidation State

6.5 Reactions Involving Coordinated

6.6 Organometallic Synthesis

Concept Keys

Further Reading


7 Properties


7.1 Finding Ways to Make Complexes Talk -- Investigative Methods

7.2 Getting Physical -- Methods and Outcomes

7.3 Probing the Life of Complexes -- Using Physical Methods

Concept Keys

Further Reading


8 A Complex Life


8.1 Life's a Metal Ion

8.2 Metalloproteins and Metalloenzymes

8.3 Doing What Comes Unnaturally

8.4 A Laboratory-free Approach -- In Silico Prediction

Concept Keys

Further Reading


9 Complexes and Commerce


9.1 Kill or Cure? -- Complexes as Drugs

9.2 How Much? -- Analysing with Complexes

9.3 Profiting from Complexation

9.4 Being Green

9.5 Complex Futures

Concept Keys

Further Reading


Appendix One Nomenclature


Appendix Two Molecular Symmetry: The Point Group


Index