Ligands

Anionic Ligands

Name Formula Abbreviation Donor atoms

acetato CH3COO -
1, 2-O

acetylacetonato acac 2-O

C5H7O2-
amido NH2 - 1-N
azido N3 - 1-N
bromido Br - 1-Br
carbonato CO32- 1, 2-O
chlorido Cl - 1-Cl
cyanido CN - 1-C

cyclopentadienyl Cp 5-C
C5H5 -
ethyl C2H5 - 1-C

ethylenediaminetetraacetato edta 2-N, 4-O

fluorido F- 1-F
hydrido H- 1-H
hydroxido OH - 1-O
iodido I- 1-I
methyl CH3 - 1-C
nitrato NO3 - 1, 2-O
nitrido N 3- 1-N
nitrito-κN NO2 - 1-N
nitrito-κO ONO - 1-O
oxido O 2- 1-O

oxalato ox 2-O
C2O42-
peroxido O22- 2-O
phenyl C6H5 - 1-C
sulfanido HS - 1-S
sulfido S 2- 1-S
thiocyanato-κN NCS - 1-N
thiocyanato-κS SCN - 1-S
Neutral Ligands

Name Formula Abbreviation Donor atoms

ammine NH3 1-N
aqua H2O 1-O
2,2’-bipyridine
bpy 2-N

carbonyl CO 1-C
diethylenetriamine
dien 3-N

dinitrogen N2 1-N
dioxygen O2 1, 2-O
ethylenediamine
en 2-N
NH2CH2CH2NH2
1,10-phenanthroline

phen 2-N

pyridine

py 1-N
C5H5N
tetrahydrofuran
thf 1-O
C4H8O
triaminotriethylamine
NH2 NH2
N
tren 4-N

H2N

triethylenetetramine
trien 4-N

trimethylphosphane P(CH3)3 PMe3 1-P

triphenylphosphane P(C6H5)3 PPh3 1-P

Prepared by: Dr. Mahesh Karunarathne

Department of Chamistry,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
19/06/2017
Metals

Metal
Name (neutral or cationic) Name (anionic)
atom
Sc scandium scandate
Ti titanium titanate
V vanadium vanadate
Cr chromium chromate
Mn manganese manganate
Fe iron ferrate
Co cobalt cobaltate
Ni nickel nickelate
Cu copper cuprate
Zn zinc zincate

Pb lead plumbate
Au gold aurate
Ag silver argentate
Sn tin stannate

Number Prefix

Number Simple Prefix a Complex Prefix b

2 di bis
3 tri tris
4 tetra tetrakis
5 penta pentakis
6 hexa hexakis
7 hepta
8 octa
9 nona
10 deca

a Simple prefixes are used for simple monodentate ligands.

b Complex prefixes are used for polydentate ligands and large monodentate ligands with number
prefixes, or where ambiguity may arise.

Prepared by: Dr. Mahesh Karunarathne

Department of Chamistry,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
19/06/2017