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
Introduction to π acceptor ligands; definition, classification, general methods of preparation, properties structure and nature of bonding in metal carbonyls (mononuclear carbonyls only), synergic effect (MO diagram of CO), Carbonylate anions and its reactions.
General methods of preparation, properties structure and nature of bonding in metal nitrosyls.