Hapticity

Ferrocene contains two η5-cyclopentadienyl ligands

In coordination chemistry, hapticity is the coordination of a ligand to a metal center via an uninterrupted and contiguous series of atoms.[1] The hapticity of a ligand is described with the Greek letter η ('eta'). For example, η2 describes a ligand that coordinates through 2 contiguous atoms. In general the η-notation only applies when multiple atoms are coordinated (otherwise the κ-notation is used). In addition, if the ligand coordinates through multiple atoms that are not contiguous then this is considered denticity[2] (not hapticity), and the κ-notation is used once again.[3] When naming complexes care should be taken not to confuse η with μ ('mu'), which relates to bridging ligands.[4][5]

  1. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "η (eta or hapto) in inorganic nomenclature". doi:10.1351/goldbook.H01881
  2. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "denticity". doi:10.1351/goldbook.D01594
  3. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "κ (kappa) in inorganic nomenclature". doi:10.1351/goldbook.K03366
  4. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "bridging ligand". doi:10.1351/goldbook.B00741
  5. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "µ- (mu) in inorganic nomenclature". doi:10.1351/goldbook.M03659