The glycinate anion, gly-= NH2CH2CO2-, bonds to metal ions through the N atom and one of the O atoms. Using to represent gly-, sketch the structures of the four stereoisomers of Co(gly)3.
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Identify the coordination geometry of the complex. Cobalt(III) typically forms octahedral complexes.
Recognize that each glycinate ligand is bidentate, meaning it can form two bonds with the metal center, one through the nitrogen atom and one through an oxygen atom.
Consider the possible arrangements of the three bidentate ligands around the cobalt center. In an octahedral complex, these can lead to different stereoisomers.
Determine the possible stereoisomers: In an octahedral complex with three bidentate ligands, there are two main types of stereoisomers: facial (fac) and meridional (mer).
Sketch the structures: For the fac isomer, all three ligands are adjacent to each other, forming a face of the octahedron. For the mer isomer, the ligands are arranged such that they form a meridian around the metal center.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Stereoisomerism
Stereoisomerism refers to the phenomenon where compounds have the same molecular formula and connectivity of atoms but differ in the spatial arrangement of those atoms. In coordination chemistry, stereoisomers can arise from the different ways ligands can be arranged around a central metal ion, leading to distinct geometric configurations such as cis and trans forms.
Coordination complexes consist of a central metal atom or ion bonded to surrounding molecules or anions called ligands. The nature of these bonds and the arrangement of ligands around the metal ion determine the properties and reactivity of the complex. In this case, the glycinate anion acts as a bidentate ligand, coordinating through both nitrogen and oxygen atoms.
Chirality is a property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image, much like left and right hands. In coordination complexes, chirality can arise when a metal center is bonded to ligands in such a way that it creates asymmetric arrangements. The presence of chiral ligands, like glycinate, can lead to the formation of enantiomers, which are important in biological systems.
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