Metal-ligand bonding (MO concept) in triatomic molecules- H2O and BeH2, LCAO approximation, ligand group orbitals, sigma bonding in octahedral, tetrahedral, square planar complexes (qualitative pictorial approach).
Reactivity and stability: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Stability of Metal Complexes, labile and inert complexes, factors affecting the stability of complexes, ligand substitution reactions: patterns of reactivity, classification of mechanisms, energy profile of reaction transition states, kinetics of substitution reactions(acid hydrolysis) in octahedral complexes, the ligand substitution reactions in square-planar complexes, the trans-effect, theories of trans-effect and its uses.
Definition, nomenclature and classification of organometallic compounds; Hapticity(η) of organometallic ligands, 18-electron rule.
Preparation, properties, structure, bonding and applications of alkyls and aryls of Li, Al, Hg, Sn and Ti (η1)
Structure and bonding in metal ethylenic complex – Zeise’s salt (η2)
Structure and bonding in metal cyclopentadienyl complex- Ferrocene (η5)
Principles and Important Reactions of Transition Metal Organometallics: Coordinative unsaturation: oxidative addition and insertion reactions.
Homogeneous catalysis: hydrogenation of alkenes, hydrosilylation of alkenes, oligomerization and polymerization of alkenes and alkynes, hydroformylation of alkenes and polymerization of alkenes (Ziegler-Natta catalysis).
Heterogenous catalysis : Fisher-Tropsch synthesis, water-gas shift reaction.