Description of coordination geometry in tetrahedral metal complexes by symmetry-deformation coordinates

Abstract

Coordination geometries of transition-metal complexes with Co, Ni, Cu, Pt, Pd and Rh have been analyzed by means of symmetry-deformation coordinates. These allow classification of the crystallographically observed coordination geometries with respect to reference structures of higher symmetry. Four-coordinate transition-metal complexes exhibit geometries which range from tetrahedral to square-planar. Whereas Co, Ni and Cu are found in tetrahedral, planar and various intermediate geometries, Pt, Pd and Rh mainly adopt planar coordination. Deformations retaining planarity show distortions from square to rectangular geometry