Beyond ligand field theory

Modern ligand field theory is based on crystal field theory. It attributes partial covalent character and partial ionic character to bonds. It is a more sophisticated theory, beyond the scope of this text. 

Ligand field theory corrects some of the defects of crystal field theory by going beyond electostatic interactions to include the effects of covalent metal-ligand bonding through the use of molecular orbital theory. 

The spectrochemical series was established from experimental measurements. The ranking of ligands cannot be fully rationalized using crystal field theory, and more advanced bonding theories are beyond the scope of general chemistry. 

The foregoing discussion of valence is. of course, a simplified one. From ihe development of the quantum theory and its application to the structure of the atom, there has ensued a quantum theory of valence and of the structure of the molecule, discussed in this hook under Molecule. Topics thal are basically important to modem views of molecular structure include, in addition to those already indicated the Schroedinger wave equation the molecular orbital method (introduced in the article on Molecule) as well as directed valence bonds bond energies, hybrid orbitals, the effect of Van der Waals forces and electron-dcticiem molecules. Some of these subjects are clearly beyond the space available in this book and its scope of treatment. Even more so is their use in interpretation of molecular structure. [However, sec Crystal Field Theory and Ligand.)... 

Within the SH formalism the MPs (gx, gy, gz, D, E, /tip) are thought of as physical constants associated with each particular system. The electronic-magnetic theory beyond the SH formalism reveals that there are only the electronic-structure parameters (like B, C, ) associated with the electron configuration and the CF parameters [like F2(L) and F4(I)] for each ligand. A more realistic approach brings the orbital reduction factors k (which must be anisotropic) and in a particular case of the degenerate electronic states also the force-field and vibronic coupling parameters (like Kee, Xe, Xee, and eventually Ktt, Xt, Xtt, or even more parameters). 

We have seen that the crystal-field model provides a basis for explaining many features of transition-metal complexes. In fact, it can be used to explain many observations in addition to those we have discussed. Many lines of evidence show, however, that the bonding between transition-metal ions and ligands must have some covalent character. Molecular-orbital theory (Sections 9.7 and 9.8) can also be used to describe the bonding in complexes, although the application of molecular-orbital theory to coordination compounds is beyond the scope of our discussion. The crystal-field model, although not entirely accurate in all details, provides an adequate and useful first description of the electronic structure of complexes. 

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