Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 217

CHAPTER 15: PARALLELS BETWEEN MAIN GROUP AND

ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY
15.1 a. Mn2(CO)10 + Br2 2 Mn(CO)5Br H

C
–
b. HCCl3 + excess[Co(CO)4]
(CO)3Co Co(CO)3

Co
(CO)3

c. Co2(CO)8 + (SCN)2 2 NCSCo(CO)4

R

O C
O
C C C
R
d. Co2(CO)8 + C6H5–CC–C6H5
Co Co

C C
O C C
O O O

e. Mn2(CO)10 + [(5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2]2 2 (CO)5Mn–Fe(5-C5H5)(CO)2

15.2 a. Tc(CO)5  CH3 

b. [Re(CO)4]–  CH2  

c. [Co(CN)5]3–  CH3
d. [CpFe(C6H5)]+  CH4
e. [Mn(CO)5]+  CH3
+

f. Os2(CO)8  H2C=CH2
15.3 Many examples are possible. Two for each:

a. CH3 (6-C6H6)Mn(PPh3)2
CH3 [Ni(CS)(PMe3)2Cl2]+

b. CH (4-C4H4)Co(CS)
CH (6-C6H6)Rh

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218 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry  

c. CH3+ Mo(borazine)(PMe3)(CS)
–
CH3+ [V(CO)3(en)]

–
d. CH3 (8-C8H8)Ru(PEt3)
–
CH3 [Co(N2)(CO)2(bipy)]+

e. (5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2 Co(CO)3Cl2
–
(5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2 [(6-C6H6)Cr(CO)2]

f. Sn(CH3)2 (5-C5H5)Ir(CO)
–
Sn(CH3)2 [Tc(CO)4]

15.4 Many possibilities exist; some of those given here may not be synthetically accessible.

a. C2H4 (CO)4Fe=Fe(CO)4

b. P4 [Ir(CO)3]4

(CO)4Fe Ru(CO)4
c. cyclo-C4H8
(CO)4Ru Fe(CO)4

d. S8 cyclo-[Fe(CO)4]8

15.5 a. All three complexes are 18 electron species, with the benzene ring of
[(C5Me5)Fe(C6H6)]+ replaced by three carbonyl groups or two carbonyls and a
phosphine. All have a formal coordination number of six.

b. The experimental results are more complex than might be expected.

[(C5Me5)Fe(C6H5)]++ H– Fe

H
H

[(5-C5H5)Fe(CO)3]+ + H– (5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2H [(5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2]2 + H2

PPh3
5
[( -C5H5)Fe(CO)2PPh3] + H + –
 OC CO
 Fe
  (See A. Davison, M. L. H. Green,
and G. Wilkinson, J. Chem. Soc.,
1961, 3172.) H
H

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 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 219

15.6 a. CH2, Fe(CO)4, [Mn(CO)4]–, and PR2 each has two frontier orbitals, each with one
electron. Each fragment is two ligands short of the parent polyhedron (octahedron
or tetrahedron).

b. Fe(CO)4 and CpRh(CO) each has two frontier orbitals, each with one electron.

c. [Re(CO)4]– has two frontier orbitals, with one electron in each. R2C is isolobal with
two frontier orbitals, each with one electron.

15.7 The W(Cp)(CO)2 fragments are isolobal with CR and CPh, each with three orbitals containing
one electron each; PtR2 and Cu(C5Me5) are isolobal, each with two orbitals containing one
electron each.

15.8 a. If Mn has the lower energy orbital, then the bonding molecular orbital has a greater
contribution by the Mn orbital, and the electrons in the orbital are polarized toward Mn.

b. The gold orbitals are higher in energy. Rather than matching energies with the lowest
of the π orbitals of the Cp ring, the Au orbitals will match better with the higher π
orbitals, which have a nodal plane cutting across the ring.

15.9 a. CH2 and Fe(CO)4 are isolobal, each with two orbitals containing one electron apiece.

b. Mn(CO)2(C5Me5) is isolobal with [Mn(CO)5]+, a 16 electron species, which is in turn

isolobal with CH2. The Mn–Sn–Mo fragment is similar to allene, C=C=C, in which the
double bonds force a linear geometry.

15.10 [C(AuPPh3)5]+ Structure: slightly distorted trigonal bipyramid, as expected from VSEPR.

[C(AuPPh3)6]2+ Structure: slightly distorted octahedron, as expected from VSEPR.

The structure of the 7-coordinate [C(AuPPh3)7]3+ has not been reported, but interest in the realm
of highly coordinated carbon compounds continues; for a recent update, see H. G. Raubenheimer
and H. Schmidbaur, Organometallics, 2012, 31, 2507.

In these complexes, each of the AuPPh3 groups can be viewed as having an sp hybrid orbital
pointing in toward the carbon. Interactions between these hybrids with the s and p orbitals
of carbon give rise to four bonding orbitals in each case. The eight valence electrons available
fill these orbitals. The result is the equivalent of four bonds spread over the complex (bond
order of 4/5 in [C(AuPPh3)5]+ and 4/6 in [C(AuPPh3)6]2+. Metal-metal bonding is also likely
to contribute to the stability of these structures.

For more details, see H. Schmidbaur, et. al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 1989, 28, 463
and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 1988, 27, 1544.

15.11 Carbonyl ligands are significantly stronger π acceptors than cyclopentadienyl. Replacing three
CO ligands with Cp on each metal atom, therefore, leaves the metals with greater electron density
for involvement in metal–metal bonding, leading to shorter metal–metal bonds in the cobalt
complexes. In addition, there is a general decrease in atomic radii from left to right in this row of
transition metals, so Co atoms are slightly smaller than Fe atoms (see Table 2.8).

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220 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry  

15.12 a. The orbital interactions are similar in the two cases, except that the π orbitals of the
P5 ring are lower in energy than those of the C5H5 ring, resulting in a stronger ability
of the P5 ring to accept electrons from the metal (see also reference 11 in this chapter).

b. Because the P5 ring acts as a strong acceptor, electrons are accepted into antibonding
–
orbitals in the titanium complexes, leading to longer P–P distances than in P5 (calculated
at 2.12 Å). The Ti–P distances are calculated to be shorter in the theoretical structure
– 2–
[Ti(P5)] than in [Ti(P5)2] , in which ligands compete for electrons in the same d orbitals
on the metal. The consequence is that the predicted P–P distance is longer (2.24 Å) in
–
[Ti(P5)] , where the ligand can act as a stronger acceptor because it is closer to the metal,
2–
than in [Ti(P5)2] (calculated: 2.175 Å; experimental in reference 11: 2.154 Å).

15.13 a. The Mn(CO)5 fragments have a single electron in their HOMO, largely derived from
the dz2 (hybridized with the pz orbital) of Mn. Lobes of the HOMOs of two Mn(CO)5
fragments interact in a sigma fashion with the g orbital of C2 (see Figure 5.5 for the
approximate shape) derived primarily from the pz orbitals of the C atoms:
O O
C O C O
C C
OC Mn C C Mn CO
C C
O C O C
O O

b. The empty π* orbitals of C2 can interact with occupied d orbitals of Mn(CO)5 fragments:
O O
C O C O
C C
OC Mn C C Mn CO
C C
O C O C
O O

c. The reference points out other interactions, such as between π (bonding) orbitals of
C2 and Mn(CO)5, and discusses the relative energies of the molecular orbitals of this
molecule and other molecules having bridging C2 ligands.
15.14 A staggered configuration is more likely, as predicted by VSEPR. The bonding is similar to
that in the triply bonded [Os2Cl8]2–.

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 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 221

End view:
15.15

matches dx2–y2

15.16 Cotton’s explanation is that removal of an electron effectively changes the oxidation number
of Tc, causing the d orbitals in [TcCl8]2– to be smaller than those of [TcCl8]3–. This reduces
the orbital overlap, weakening the bonding in spite of the higher formal bond order. The change
is small—about 3 pm. (See F. A. Cotton and G. Wilkinson, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry,
5th Ed., Wiley, 1988. p. 1090.)

15.17 As the reference describes, these ions are isostructural and are based on octahedra fused at
one mutual face (occupied by three bridging chlorine atoms). The shortening of the Re–Re
distance upon reduction is attributed chiefly to two factors. As the complex is reduced, the net
positive charge on each metal is reduced (the oxidation state changes from 4 to 3.5), which
reduces the metal-metal repulsion. In addition, with the reduction of the metals, the metal d
orbitals expand, enabling more effective overlap and stronger bonding.

15.18 This example is similar to the one presented in Figure 15.10. In compound 1 there are six
DTolF ligands, each with a charge of 1–. Adding the charges of the bridging hydroxides, the
total charge of the ligands in this complex is 8–. Consequently, the total charge on the Mo atoms
must be 8+, or a charge of 4+ per Mo2 unit. Each Mo2+ has 4 d electrons, giving 8 d electrons
per Mo2. Mo24+, with its 8 d electrons, has an Mo–Mo bond order of 4 (Figure 15.10).
In compound 2 there are also six DTolF ligands. The bridging O2– ligands result in a total
ligand charge of 10–; consequently, the four molybdenums must carry an average charge
of 2.5+, or 5+ per Mo2 unit. There are now just 7 d electrons per Mo2. From Figure 15.10 we
can see that Mo25+, with 7 d electrons, corresponds to a bond order of 3.5. The lower Mo–Mo
bond order in 2 results in a longer bond.

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222 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry  

15.19   a. Because the diphenylforamidinate ion has a charge of 1–, the iron atoms have an
average oxidation state of 1.5, alternatively viewed as mixed-valent Fe(I) and Fe(II).

b. The iron atoms have a total of 7 [Fe(I)] + 6 [Fe(II)] = 13 d electrons. The 3d orbitals
interact in sigma (dz2), pi (dxz and dyz), and delta (dxy and dx2–y2) fashions to generate
bonding and antibonding orbitals of these types. The calculated order of energy of these
orbitals is shown below. Experimental data and supporting calculations suggest that the
singly occupied π*, *, , and * orbitals are very close in energy, favoring a high-spin
arrangement that, in accordance with Hund’s rule, results in seven electrons with parallel
spin.







        
 

15.20 The clamping of the nitrogen atoms that bridge the chromium atoms is postulated to enforce short
chromium—chromium bonds. The ligand, in effect, assists in pushing the chromium atoms
together. Ligand design is critical to minimize inter-ligand substituent repulsion to maximize
ligand chelation ability. While Figure 1 of the reference emphasizes steric effects, it is stated that
repulsion between filled nitrogen and chromium nonbonding orbitals is maximized (resulting in
further metal—metal bond contraction) when chelation is more robust. The aminopyridinates are
shown in the same figure to chelate less effectively to the chromium atoms; the nitrogen
substituents of the two ligands are directed slightly towards each other, reducing the efficacy of
the chelate, and leading to longer chromium—chromium distances. The amidate substituents are
directed away from the chromium—chromium bond, resulting in less inter-ligand repulsion, and
slightly shorter chromium—chromium bonds. The guanidinates tune the clamping effect further
by introducing steric pressure provided by the substituents emerging from the central carbon atom
of the chelating ligand. This steric hindrance pushes the substituents of the chelating nitrogen
atoms slightly towards the chromium atoms, resulting in the chromium atoms being pushed closer
together.

The magnetic susceptibility results indicate that the dichromium complex 3 (see reference)
features a singlet ground state, with no unpaired electrons. If the chromium atoms are both d5
centers, then these 10 metal valence electrons will fill all five bonding molecular orbitals of the
energy level diagram in Figure 15.9 to afford a quintuple bond.

15.21 It is proposed that CH 3C  CCH 3 reacts with the quintuply bonded dichromium complex in a
manner consistent with 2+2 cycloaddition resulting in a dichromium metallacycle with a
carbon—carbon double bond and a chromium—chromium quadruple bond. The crystallographic
data support this hypothesis on the basis of a carbon—carbon distance (132.6 pm) similar to that
of ethylene (133.9 pm), and a chromium—chromium distance (192.5 pm) longer than that in the
starting quintuply bonded complex (180.3 pm), consistent with a fourfold chromium—chromium
bond order. Calculated bond orders (via DFT calculations) for the dichromium metallacyle
product are 3.43 and 1.98 for the chromium—chromium and carbon—carbon bonds, respectively.

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 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 223

15.22 a.
Oh E 8C3 6C2 6C4 3C2 i 6S4 6S6 3h 6d
 (s, pz) 6 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 4 2
A1g 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
T1u 3 0 –1 1 –1 –3 –1 0 1 1
Eg 2 –1 0 0 2 2 0 –1 2 0

 fits either the s or the pz orbitals.

b. It can be seen from the table above that  = A1g + T1u + Eg. This can also be worked out
by the more elaborate methods used in Chapter 4.
c. The reducible representation for the px and py orbitals and its components are shown in
the following table. Figure 15.13 shows the three T1u and the three T2g group orbitals
required (which also include some pz contribution from two of the boron atoms). The
T1g and T2u representations are for antibonding orbitals.

Oh E 8C3 6C2 6C4 3C2 i 6S4 6S6 3h 6d

x,y 12 0 0 0 –4 0 0 0 0 0
T1g 3 0 –1 1 –1 3 1 0 –1 –1 (Rx, Ry, Rz)
T1u 3 0 –1 1 –1 –3 –1 0 1 1 (x, y, z)
T2g 3 0 1 –1 –1 3 –1 0 –1 1
T2u 3 0 1 –1 –1 –3 1 0 1 –1

15.23 The number of orbitals of each type can be obtained by analogy with the results for B6H62–
(Section 15.4.1):

2 valence atomic orbitals of B combine to form:

15 bonding orbitals (2n + 1) consisting of:
8 framework MOs (n + 1)
1 bonding orbital from overlap of sp orbitals
7 bonding orbitals from overlap of p orbitals of B with sp hybrid
orbitals or p orbitals of other B atoms
7 B–H bonding orbitals (n)
13 nonbonding or antibonding orbitals

15.24 a. C2B3H7  B5H9  B5H54– nido

b. B6H12  B6H66– arachno

c. B11H112– closo

d. C3B5H7  B8H10  B8H82– closo

– –
e. CB10H13  B11H14  B11H114– nido

f. B10H142–  B10H106– arachno

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224 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry  

15.25 a. SB10H102–  B11H132–  B11H114– nido

b. NCB10H11  B12H14  B12H122– closo

c. SiC2B4H10  B7H13  B7H76– arachno

d. As2C2B7H9  B11H15  B11H114– nido

– –
e. PCB9H11  B11H14  B11H114– nido

15.26 a. B3H8(Mn(CO)3)  B4H8  B4H44– nido

b. B4H6(CoCp)2  B6H8  B6H62– closo

c. C2B7H11CoCp  B9H13CoCp  B10H14  B10H104– nido

d. B5H10FeCp  B6H10  B6H64– nido

e. C2B9H11Ru(CO)3  B11H13Ru(CO)3  B12H14  B12H122– closo

15.27 a. Ni(CO)4: CH4 Ni(CO)2: CH22+

Ni(CO)3: CH3+ Ni(CO): CH3+

b. [Bi3Ni4(CO)6]x The cluster needs 4n + 2 = 4(7) + 2 = 30 cluster valence

electrons for a closo classification (there are 7 Bi and Ni atoms in the core of the
cluster). Each Bi atom contributes its 5 valence electrons, and each CO ligand
contributes 2, for a total of 3(5) + 6(2) =27. Three additional electrons are
needed for a total of 30; consequently, the charge must be x = 3–; the formula is
[Bi3Ni4(CO)6]3–. (See reference and citations therein for additional details on
electron counting.)

c. [BixNi4(CO)6]2– The cluster valence count starts with 6 CO ligands (12 electrons)
and a charge of 2– , a total of 14 electrons. If x = 0, the value of 4n + 2 would be 18.
Each Bi atom counts an additional 5 electrons, and each additional core atom increases
4n + 2 by 4. At x = 4, the total cluster valence electron count (34) equals 4n + 2 (4 Bi
atoms and 4 Ni atoms in core, so n = 8). Consequently, the formula is [Bi4Ni4(CO)6]2– .

15.28 B2 H 6 (Cp*RuCO)2 : Cp*RuCO is a 15 electron fragment, 3 electrons short of 18. This fragment
is isolobal to the 5-electron fragment BH 2 , 3 short of 8 electrons. The metallaborane
B2 H 6 (Cp*RuCO)2 is therefore isolobal with B4 H10 .
B4 H10  6H + 
 B4 H 46- (arachno)

(Continued on next page)

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 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 225

B3H 7 (Cp*RuH)2 : Cp*RuH is a 14 electron fragment, 4 electrons short of 18. This fragment is
isolobal to the 4-electron fragment BH, 4 short of 8 electrons. The metallaborane
B3H 7 (Cp*RuH)2 is therefore isolobal with B5H 9 .
 B5H 54- (nido)
B5H 9  4H + 

The reactions of B2 H 6 (Cp*RuCO)2 with Mn 2 (CO)10 and Re 2 (CO)10 , respectively, afford

products with dramatically different structures. The Mn 2 (CO)10 reaction yields
arachno  [(Cp*RuCO)2 B3H 7 ] (left) and the novel bridged borylene complex
[3 -BH)(Cp*RuCO)2 ( -H)( -CO){Mn(CO)3}] (right, perspective from above the triply bridging
borylene ligand).
H
H (CO)3
H Mn
H
B H B CH3
H CH3 OC HB H3C
B H3C
OC H
H3C CH3 Ru
H3C CH3 Ru Ru
Ru
H C
O
H3C OC CH3 H3C OC CH3

H3C H3C
CH3 CH3

CH3 H3C CH3 H3C

The reaction of B2 H 6 (Cp*RuCO)2 and Re 2 (CO)10 provides [Cp*Ru(CO)( -H)]2 (below) as the
only characterized product.

H3C

CH3
H 3C
OC
H

H3 C Ru Ru
CH3
H CH3
CO H C
3
H3C

CH3

CH3

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226 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry  

15.29 The cluster is below, with each Mo an abbreviation for ( 5 -Cp*Mo) . The presence of
molybdenum—molybdenum bonds is postulated to prevent BH capping of some of the cubane
faces. The two boron atoms labeled as “1” are five-coordinate and are assigned a 11B{1H} NMR
chemical shift of 131.5 ppm. The boron atoms labeled “2” are four-coordinate with bonds to three
Mo atoms and one boron atom; the corresponding chemical shift for these two atoms is 94.4 ppm.
The three boron atoms labeled “3” are four-coordinate with two bonds each to boron and
molybdenum; the chemical shift for these three boron atoms is 58.8 ppm.
H
3 B
H 3
B
Mo
1
HB BH 1

Mo
HB
3
2
B
H
Mo Mo
B
H 2

This cluster features four  5 -Cp* ligands, and pairs of these are chemically equivalent on the
basis of the 1H NMR spectrum. The “top” two Mo atoms feature bonds to five boron atoms and
one Mo atom. The “bottom” two Mo atoms feature bonds to four boron atoms and two Mo
atoms. These provide two unique chemical environments for the  5 -Cp* ligands.

15.30 Product yields for insertion of the dicarbollide cage into [( 6 -arene)Fe][PF6 ]2 were deemed lower
with the pentamethylbenzene and hexamethylbenzene iron complexes as reactants (15-20%,
compared to 48-70% with the less substituted benzenes) on the basis of stronger Fe—arene bonds
with these more highly methylated cations. A variety of approaches were used to show
correlations to the degree of methylation of the benzene. Figure 1 of the reference shows that the
diamagnetic shielding of the CH cage hydrogen atoms increases with increasing number of arene
methyl groups. The resonances for these CH hydrogen atoms shift upfield as the number of
methyl substituents changes from 1 to 6. Similar linear correlations were observed between the
11
B chemical shift of the antipodal dicarbollide cage boron atom (labeled as 12 in Scheme 1) and
the 1H chemical shift of the hydrogen atom on this same boron atom; as the degree of methyl
substitution increases at the arene ligand, these resonances progressively shift upfield. It is
remarkable how sensitive the latter chemical shifts are to modulation of the donor ability of the
arene ring since these atoms are separated from the iron atom by a relatively large number of
bonds. The Fe2+/Fe3+ redox potential decreases linearly as the number of methyl substituents
increases; the complexes become progressively easier to oxidize (the complexes become better
reducing agents) as the number of methyl groups increases.

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 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 227

15.31 a. Ge94– has 40 valence electrons = 4n + 4. Its classification is nido.

b. InBi32– has 3 + 3(5) + 2 = 20 valence electrons = 4n + 4. Its classification is also nido.

c. Bi82+ has 8(5) – 2 = 38 valence electrons = 4n + 6. It is an arachno cluster.

15.32 The reference notes that significant ion-pairing exists between the potassium ions and the highly
negatively charged Zintl ions in K 3E7 (E = P, As, Sb). Addition of cryptand[2.2.2] results in
potassium ion complexation, attenuates the ion-pairing interaction, and renders the Zintl ions
more effective nucleophiles. The IR spectroscopic data in the carbonyl region for
[K(2.2.2)]3[E7Cr(CO)3 ] (below) indicate extensive -backbonding in each case. On the basis of
the lowest energy CO stretching frequency, one would tentatively rank the E73 donor ability to
the Cr(CO)3 fragment as increasing as Sb < P < As, but these frequencies are sufficiently similar
that it is difficult to clearly differentiate the donor ability of these Zintl ions.
Salt IR  (CO) (cm -1 )
[K(2.2.2)]3[P7Cr(CO)3] 1829, 1738, 1716
[K(2.2.2)]3[As7Cr(CO)3 ] 1824, 1741, 1708
[K(2.2.2)]3[Sb7Cr(CO)3 ] 1823, 1748, 1718
The electronic spectra of [K(2.2.2)]3[E7Cr(CO)3 ] are provided in Figure 5a of the reference. The
tails of the absorptions assigned to intra-ligand E73 charge transfer bands decrease in energy
from PCr > AsCr > SbCr. Note that the max of these charge transfer bands (Table 4) are nearly
identical, although they do exhibit differences in their molar absorptivity constants,  , in
L L
parentheses: PCr: 363 nm, (6600 ); AsCr: 365 nm, (11400 ); SbCr: 365 nm,
mol cm mol cm
L
(16000 ). The assignment of these intra-ligand charge transfer bands in
mol cm
[K(2.2.2)]3[E7Cr(CO)3 ] is reasonable since the identical trends are exhibited by the Zintl ions
E73 themselves; these absorptions are essentially unchanged upon coordination to the Cr(CO)3
fragment.
A sketch of [Cr(CO)3 (HSb7 )]2- is below. The hydrogen ion binds to the Sb atom furthest from
the Cr atom.
2-
OC CO CO

Cr
Sb Sb
Sb Sb

Sb Sb

Sb
H

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228 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry  

15.33 The Lewis structure of [HP7 ]2- is below. It is interesting that this Zintl ion exhibits fluxional
behavior in solution that renders all the phosphorus atoms equivalent on the NMR time scale.

P
P P P
H
P P
P

The most likely carbodiimide hydrophosphination mechanism is as follows, with nucleophilic

attack at the carbodiimide carbon affording an intermediate amidinate that rapidly abstracts a
proton from the Zintl ion cage. Evidence for intramolecular proton transfer is provided by
isotopic labeling studies. When [HP7 ]2- is used as a reactant towards carbodiimides in
deuterated-solvents, the only amidine-functionalized products obtained feature N—H bonds.
When the corresponding reactions with [DP7 ]2- are conducted in protio-solvents, only amidine-
functionalized products with N—D bonds are obtained. These experiments definitively prove the
role of [HP7 ]2- as the proton source, and strongly suggest the mechanism below.
NR
P P
C
P P P P
P P RN C NR
H N
H R
P P P
P
nucelophilic attack
P P

intramolecular proton transfer

NR
P
C
P P P
HN
R
P P
P
15.34 a. m = 1 (a single polyhedron)
n = 5 (each B atom counts)
o = 0 (no bridging atoms)
p = 2 (2 missing vertices)
8 skeletal electron pairs

b. m = 2 (2 polyhedra)
n = 10 (each B, C, and Co atom counts)

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 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 229

o = 1 (1 bridging atom, the cobalt)

p = 2 (2 missing vertices: the top part of the molecule is considered as a pentagonal
bipyramid with the top vertex missing, and the bottom as an octahedron with
the bottom vertex missing)
15 skeletal electron pairs

c. m = 2 (2 polyhedra)
n = 17 (each B, C, and Fe atom counts)
o = 1 (1 bridging atom, Fe)
p = 1 (1 missing vertex, the top atom of the incomplete pentagonal bipyramid)
21 skeletal electron pairs

15.35 a. C2v

b. C5v, D5h
2– 2–
c. [Re2Cl8] : D4h; [Os2Cl8] : D4d

d. D2h

e. C5v

f. Cs, C2h

g. Te62+: D3h Ge94–: C4v

15.36 a. Td

b. Ih

15.37 a. The group orbitals are derived primarily from the 3p orbitals of phosphorus, which
collectively resemble the five π orbitals for C5H5 in Figure 13.22. Diagrams of these
orbitals can be found in the second reference. (See also Z-Z. Liu, W-Q. Tian, J-K. Feng,
G. Zhang, and W-Q. Li, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2005, 109, 5645.)

Atomic orbitals on transition metals suitable for interaction (assuming metal

centered below P5 plane)

lowest energy group orbital: s, pz, dz2

1-node degenerate pair: px, dxz, py, dyz
2-node degenerate pair: dxy, dx2–y2

b. The molecular orbitals of P5– are lower in energy than the similar orbitals of C5H5–,
giving rise to a generally stronger ability of P5– to π accept. For example, the energy
match between 2-node orbitals and metal d orbitals may be closer in P5– complexes than
in the case of ferrocene (Figure 13.28), enabling stronger interaction. An example of

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230 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry  

such an interaction would be between an empty 2-node orbital of P5– and a dx2–y2 orbital
of a metal:

dx2–y2

c. The reference provides an energy level diagram of the molecular orbitals of

[(5-C5H5)2Ti]2–. In analyzing the orbitals it is important to see how the π orbitals of P5–
ligands match up with d orbitals on Ti and how the resulting shapes illustrate how the
lobes of these interacting orbitals merge (in the bonding orbitals) and how nodes are
formed between them (in the antibonding orbitals).

15.38 The three types of interaction, , π, and , should be evident in the orbitals generated. In
addition to the bonding interactions (see Figure 15.8) there should be matching antibonding
interactions, with a nodal plane bisecting the metal–metal bond. The relative energies of the
molecular orbitals should be similar to those on the right side of Figure 15.9, depending on the
level of sophistication of the calculations used.

15.39 In addition to the , π, and  interactions between d orbitals, shown in Figure 15.8, a  interaction
could occur between s orbitals of the two atoms:

(In a chromium atom the valence 4p orbitals are empty, so interactions between them need not be
considered.) The extent of the calculated interactions between the atomic orbitals is likely to
differ significantly. Consequently, even though there may be six possible orbital interactions, the
strength of such bonding is calculated to be significantly weaker than would be expected in a true
“sextuple” bond. It is suggested that, for this exercise, the Cr–Cr distance be set at 166 pm, the
equilibrium distance reported in the references.

15.40 a. The A1g orbital should have a very large, nearly spherical
lobe in the center of the cluster and six smaller, also nearly
spherical lobes, on the outside of the borons (centered on
the hydrogens).

b. The T1u orbitals should each have two regions where lobes of p
orbitals on four B atoms merge, plus additional lobes, nearly
spherical, centered on opposite hydrogens.

c. The T2g orbitals should show how the lobes of

adjacent p orbitals merge. The result should have four
lobes, somewhat similar in appearance overall to a d
orbital.

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 Chapter 15 Parallels Between Main Group and Organometallic Chemistry 231

15.41 The orbitals are naturally much more complex, with 167 orbitals and 270 electrons. The T1u
and T2g orbitals shown are from a Scigress Extended Hückel calculation.

a. The A1g orbital should be similar to that for B6H62– in

Problem 15.31, with one large lobe in the center and smaller
d orbital lobes on each of the Ru atoms. It is the HOMO,
antibonding in symmetry, and the only orbital near this
energy that involves carbon orbitals.

b. The T1u orbitals should also be similar to the T1u orbitals of

B6H62–. There should be two large lobes, each derived primarily
from d orbitals on four Ru atoms and a p orbital of the central
carbon, plus lobes on opposite Ru atoms (the other Ru atoms).
There may also be fragment lobes of d orbitals on the Ru atoms.

c. The T2g orbitals are not directly involved in bonding with the
carbon, but they do strengthen the cluster framework. The
atomic orbitals should interact in sets of four, similarly to the
T2g orbitals in B6H62–, but some of the distinctive features of d
orbitals should also be observable in the ruthenium cluster.
 

15.42 a. As in ferrocene, important interactions should be observed between 1-node group orbitals
on the (in this case, Ge5) ligands and dxz and dyz orbitals on cobalt (see example for
ferrocene above Figure 13.27). With the Ge5 ligands held in closer proximity by bonds
between the top and bottom rings, interactions should also be found between 2-node
group orbitals and the dxy and dx2–y2 orbitals of Co and between 1-node group orbitals and
px and py orbitals of Co.
 
  b. In contrast to the cyclopentadienyl rings in ferrocene, primarily sigma bonding should be
observed within the Ge5 rings; the reported Ge–Ge distance in the rings is within the
range of single bonds.

c. In addition to the comparisons mentioned above, it would be informative to see if in the

[CoGe10]3– cluster the interactions between the rings and the dz2 and pz orbitals of Co are
weak (because the lobes of these orbitals point toward the center of the rings) and to look
for interactions involving the “doughnut” of the dz2. If the software generates energies of
the molecular orbitals, additional comparisons can be made between the energies of the
cluster orbitals and those of ferrocene shown in Figure 13.28.

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