Ligand design for multidimensional magnetic materials: a metallosupramolecular perspective

The aim and scope of this review is to show the general validity of the 'complex-as-ligand' approach for the rational design of metallosupramolecular assemblies of increasing structural and magnetic complexity. This is illustrated herein on the basis of our recent studies on oxamato complexes with transition metal ions looking for the limits of the research avenue opened by Kahn's pioneering research twenty years ago. The use as building blocks of mono-, di- and trinuclear metal complexes with a novel family of aromatic polyoxamato ligands allowed us to move further in the coordination chemistry-based approach to high-nuclearity coordination compounds and high-dimensionality coordination polymers. In order to do so, we have taken advantage of the new developments of metallosupramolecular chemistry and in particular, of the molecular-programmed self-assembly methods that exploit the coordination preferences of metal ions and specifically tailored ligands. The judicious choice of the oxamato metal building block (substitution pattern and steric requirements of the bridging ligand, as well as the electronic configuration and magnetic anisotropy of the metal ion) allowed us to control the overall structure and magnetic properties of the final multidimensional nD products (n = 0-3). These species exhibit interesting magnetic properties which are brand-new targets in the field of molecular magnetism, such as single-molecule or single-chain magnets, and the well-known class of molecule-based magnets. This unique family of molecule-based magnetic materials expands on the reported examples of nD species with cyanide and related oxalato and dithiooxalato analogues. Moreover, the development of new oxamato metal building blocks with potential photo or redox activity at the aromatic ligand counterpart will provide us with addressable, multifunctional molecular materials for future applications in molecular electronics and nanotechnology.     

Dinuclear manganese,iron, chromium,and cobalt complexes derived from aroylhydrazone ligands: Synthetic strategies,crystal structures,and magnetic properties

Coordination clusters of 3d metals continue to attract the intense interest of the scientists from the synthetic inorganic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry and molecular magnetism communities. We review here the synthetic strategies employed in a continuous effort to obtain new and potentially magnetically interesting dinuclear molecules based on iron, manganese, chromium, and cobalt metal ions. The reported systems are pure homometallic 3d materials. We have focused on describing aspects of the synthesis, the crystal structures and the magnetic behaviour of these coordination compounds with low nuclearity. A deep solid-state and magnetic characterization of these systems has allowed us to gain evidence regarding the role played by weak exchange interactions and geometrical factors on the slow dynamics of the magnetization. In addition, the analysis through ab initio calculations has provided a valuable insight into the influence of organic periphery, bridging ligands, and remote substituents on the exchange coupling constant (J). In the case of a dinuclear complex based on manganese, the largest ferromagnetic interaction between two Mn^III has been observed (J = 19.7 cm⁻¹).     

Structure and magnetic properties of 3d–4f heterometallic complexes containing di-2-pyridyl ketoximate: An approach to single-molecule magnets

[{Ln(hfac)₃}₂{Ni(dpk)₂(phen)}] (1Ln) and [{Ln(hfac)₃}₂{Ni(dpk)₂(py)₂}] (2Ln) were synthesized and characterized, where dpk = di-2-pyridyl ketoxmate and Ln = La, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er. The N–O groups from dpk bridged the central nickel(II) ion and terminal lanthanide(III) ions, giving a linear trinuclear array. Dc magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that they did not possess appreciable intramolecular ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic interaction. Ac magnetic susceptibility measurements clarified that frequency dependence of out-of-phase ac susceptibility was observed only for Dy derivatives 1Dy and 2Dy, which is regarded as an indication of single-molecule magnets.     

Transition metal complexes based on thiophene-dithiolene ligands

The chemistry of transition metal dithiolene complexes based on thiophene-dithiolene ligands (TD) is reviewed, from the ligand synthesis and complex preparation to the molecular structure and solid state physical properties of different compounds based on them. The ligands considered are based mainly either on simple thiophene-dithiolates (α-tpdt = 2,3-thiophenedithiolate, dtpdt = 4,5-dihydro-2,3-thiophenedithiolate, and tpdt = 3,4-thiophenedithiolate), or in more extended and delocalised dithiolate ligands (α-tdt = 3-({5-[(2-cyanoethyl)thio]-2-thieno[2,3-d][1,3]dithiol-2-ylidene-1,3-dithiol-4-yl}thio)propanenitrile and dtdt = 3-{5-[(2-cyanoethyl)thio]-2-(5,6-dihydrothieno[2,3-d][1,3]dithiol-2-ylidene-1,3-dithiol-4-yl)thio}propanenitrile) that besides the thiophenic ring also incorporates a fused TTF moiety. Dithiolene complexes based on ligands containing appended thiophenic units will also be briefly considered. The structural variability of these complexes that in addition to the usual square planar coordination geometry, M(TD)₂, can also present dimeric, [M(TD)₂]₂, or cluster structures such as [Cu₄(TD)₃] and [Ni₄(TD)₆], is addressed. The role of the thiophene group and its ability to enhance electronic delocalisation from the metal dithiolene core throughout the ligand and to establish solid state networks of S?S interactions is discussed. The importance of these complexes as useful building blocks to prepare molecular materials with very interesting magnetic and transport properties, ranging from metamagnets to Single Component Molecular Metals, is illustrated by different compounds based on them.     

New tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene chelators for small molecule activation

In an effort to develop new tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands for small molecule activation, two new classes of tripodal NHC ligands TIME^R and TIMEN^R have been synthesized. The carbon-anchored tris(carbene) ligand system TIME^R (R = Me, t-Bu) forms bi- or polynuclear metal complexes. While the methyl derivative exclusively forms trinuclear 3:2 complexes [(TIME^Me)₂M₃]³⁺ with group 11 metal ions, the tert-butyl derivative yields a dinuclear 2:2 complex [(TIME^t-Bu)₂Cu₂]²⁺ with copper(I). The latter complex shows both “normal” and “abnormal” carbene binding modes and accordingly, is best formulated as a bis(carbene)alkenyl complex. The nitrogen-anchored tris(carbene) ligands TIMEN^R (R = alkyl, aryl) bind to a variety of first-row transition metal ions in 1:1 stoichiometry, affording monomeric complexes with a protected reactivity cavity at the coordinated metal center. Complexes of TIMEN^R with Cu(I)/(II), Ni(0)/(I), and Co(I)/(II)/(III) have been synthesized. The cobalt(I) complexes with the aryl-substituted TIMEN^R (R = mesityl, xylyl) ligands show great potential for small molecule activation. These complexes activate for instance dioxygen to form cobalt(III) peroxo complexes that, upon reaction with electrophilic organic substrates, transfer an oxygen atom. The cobalt(I) complexes are also precursors for terminal cobalt(III) imido complexes. These imido complexes were found to undergo unprecedented intra-molecular imido insertion reactions to form cobalt(II) imine species. The molecular and electronic structures of some representative metal NHC complexes as well as the nature of the metal–carbene bond of these metal NHC complexes was elucidated by X-ray and DFT computational methods and are discussed briefly. In contrast to the common assumption that NHCs are pure σ-donors, our studies revealed non-negligible and even significant π-backbonding in electron-rich metal NHC complexes.     

Hydrocarbon (π- and σ-) complexes of nickel,palladium and platinum: Synthesis,reactivity and applications

With the exception of metallocenes, transition metal complexes with hydrocarbon ligands only are rare. However, complexes of this type containing Group 10 metals are known and have been shown to be quite stable. These complexes are versatile precursors for many organometallic compounds. In addition, such compounds can play an important role in many reactions including C–H or C–C activation reactions and have useful applications in the thermal and photochemical production of metal films by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The present review summarizes the synthesis, properties and chemistry of hydrocarbon complexes of Group 10 metals of the type L_nM or L_nMR₁R₂ (where L_n = σ- or π-hydrocarbon ligands; M = Ni, Pd and Pt; R₁, R₂ = σ-hydrocarbon ligands) without the involvement of any hetero donor ligands such as N, P, O and S in the metal coordination spheres.     

Steric and electronic effects in the bonding of N-heterocyclic ligands to transition metals

N-heterocyclic (NHC) ligands constitute a new class of ligands that is going to commonly be used in organometallic chemistry. Nevertheless, detailed understanding of the bonding properties of these ligands to transition metals is scarce. In particular, a clear separation between steric and electronic effects is missing. Only in recent years combined experimental and computational studies on this topic have been performed. Here we review some advances in the field. We thus present a quantification of steric effects on the bond dissociation energy of various NHC-ligands from transition metals in complexes as Cp*Ru(NHC)Cl and Ni(CO)₃(NHC). We further compare the steric requirements of various NHC ligands with the steric requirements of some phosphines. In the second part, we examine the different bonding modes that can contribute to the NHC–metal bond. We will review examples of metal-to-NHC back-donation (σ → d*) as well as of ligand-to-metal-to-NHC back-donation (π → d).     

A family of porous magnets, [M3(HCOO)6] (M = Mn,Fe, Co and Ni)

A family of porous magnets of [M₃(HCOO)₆] (M = Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) with open diamond framework based on M-centred MM₄ tetrahedral nodes, can be prepared by conventional solution chemistry method. They display permanent porosity, stability for thermal treatment, guest removal, and guest inclusion for a wide spectrum of both polar and non-polar guests of different size. The porous magnets show 3D long-range magnetic ordering and guest-modulated magnetic properties due to the subtle structure change of the magnetic framework that conforms to the guests and the nature of host–guest interaction. The dilution of [Fe₃(HCOO)₆] framework by diamagnetic zinc ion results in a mixed-metal porous [Fe_xZn_3−x(HCOO)₆] series showing gradual evolution from 3D long-range ordering to spin glass then superparamagnet and finally paramagnet.     

Chiral and helical phase transitions in quasi-1D molecular magnets

We review recent experimental data obtained with quasi-one-dimensional (1D) molecular magnets Gd(hfac)₃NITR. For Gd(hfac)₃NITiPr the results can be coherently explained only in terms of the Villain’s conjecture: a chiral order at intermediate temperatures and helical order at low temperatures. In the case of weakly frustrated molecular magnetic chain compounds Gd(hfac)₃NITPh, new specific heat measurements show the presence of a phase transition to the three-dimensional (3D) helical order, observed at T ∼ 0.63 K. In the temperature range 25–250 mK the experimental specific heat data are reproduced very well by a simple spin wave theory.     

Thymine-substituted nitronyl nitroxide biradical as a triplet (S = 1) component for bio-inspired molecule-based magnets

As a novel crystal engineering approach to organic molecule-based magnets, we have proposed a strategy of bio-inspired molecular assemblage based on intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Complementary hydrogen bonding between nucleobases as found in DNA is a promising non-covalent interaction for controlling the molecular arrangement of open-shell building block molecules. The hydrogen bonding of complementary nucleobases substituted with radical entities of different spin quantum numbers S, e.g., S = 1 and S = 1/2, gives rise to a heteromolecular aggregation of the S = 1 and S = 1/2 entities, leading to organic ferrimagnetics. In this study, we have designed and synthesized a thymine-substituted nitronyl nitroxide biradical (1) as a triplet (S = 1) component for the bio-inspired ferrimagnetic system. The molecular ground state of 1 has been found to be triplet (S = 1) with a singlet–triplet energy gap of 2J/k_B = 21.4 K from magnetic susceptibility measurements. It has been found from X-ray structure analyses that the molecules form hydrogen-bonded aggregates in the crystalline solid state, in which the thymine moiety plays a primary role in the molecular packing. The ground-state triplet biradical serves as an S = 1 building block for bio-inspired molecule-based magnets with hydrogen-bonded nucleobase pairings.     

Metal complexes of azo compounds derived from 4-acetamidophenol and substituted aniline

The Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of four azo compounds (H₂L^1–4), namely, 2-(p-X-phenylazo)-4-acetamidophenol (X = OCH₃, NO₂, Br, and H for H₂L¹, H₂L², H₂L³, and H₂L⁴, respectively) were prepared and characterized on the basis of their analytical, spectroscopic, magnetic, and conductance data. The isolated complexes are found to have the general formulae [M(HL^1–4)Cl(H₂O)₃] (M = Ni(II) and Cu(II)). The chelates are found to have octahedral structure. The infrared spectra show that H₂L^1–4 ligands are coordinated to the metal ions in a uninegative bidentate manner, with NO donor sites of the azo N and the deprotonated phenolic O. The ligands and their chelates are subjected to thermal analysis. The biological activity of the synthesized ligands and their metal complexes also are screened against the adult Tribolium confusum mortality. They showed remarkable biological activity.     

A theoretical study of electronic structures and intermolecular magnetic interactions for spiro-biphenalenyls

In order to inquire into the mechanism of the change in the magnetism of spiro-biphenalnyls, intermolecular magnetic interaction has been investigated in terms of the effective exchange integral of the Heisenberg model for dimeric pairs of diethyl-substituted spiro-biphenalenyl. Variation of the magnetic interaction with respect to temperature has been evaluated for X-ray crystallographic structures at several temperature points by Kohn–Sham hybrid-DFT. The intermolecular magnetic interactions have been calculated for the π-dimers to be antiferromagnetic at each temperature, which has decreased by approximately 30% in the magnitude from 100 to 173 K. In addition, the interactions have been almost none at 100 and 173 K except for one pair and the remaining pair had ferromagnetic interaction. Therefore, it has been found that the change in their magnetism is understood by the formation of a ferromagnetic dimer-pair at 173 K. Moreover, the natural orbital analysis for the electronic structure of diethyl-substituted spiro-biphenelenyl has shown our solutions are essentially identified to Haddon’s proposal in terms of the valence bond picture.     

First examples of dipyrido[1,2-c:2′,1′-e]imidazolin-7-ylidenes serving as NHC-ligands: Synthesis,properties and structural features of their chromium and tungsten pentacarbonyl complexes

The first use of dipyridocarbenes as Arduengo–Wanzlick type carbene ligands for transition metal complexes is reported. The complexes M(CO)₅L (L = dipyridoimidazolinylidene, di-tert-butyldipyridoimidazolinylidene, M = Cr, W) were synthesized and their spectroscopic and structural properties compared with the literature known N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) group 6 metal pentacarbonyl complexes. This reveals that the ¹³C NMR carbene signals of theses complexes with dipyrido carbene ligands show the strongest high-field shift ever observed for M(CO)₅(NHC) (M = Cr, W) complexes. The structural characterization shows alternating single and double bonds in the conjugated dipyrido moiety of the ligand.     

Electrochemical deposition of (Mn, Co)-codoped ZnO nanorod arrays without any template

(Mn, Co)-codoped ZnO nanorod arrays were successfully prepared on Cu substrates by electrochemical self-assembly in solution of 0.5 mol/l ZnCl₂–0.01 mol/l MnCl₂–0.01 mol/l CoCl₂–0.1 mol/l KCl–0.05 mol/l tartaric acid at a temperature of 90 °C, and these nanorods were found to be oriented in the c-axis direction with wurtzite structure. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction show that the dopants Mn and Co are incorporated into the wurtzite-structure of ZnO. The concentrations of the dopants, and the orientations and densities of nanorods can easily be well controlled by the current densities of deposition or salt concentrations. Magnetization measurement indicates that the prepared (Mn, Co)-codoped ZnO nanorods with a coercivity of about 91 Oe and a saturation magnetization (M_s) of about 0.23 emu/g. The anisotropic magnetism for the (Mn, Co)-codoped ZnO nanorod arrays prepared in solution of 0.5 mol/l ZnCl₂–0.01 mol/l MnCl₂–0.01 mol/l CoCl₂–0.1 mol/l KCl–0.05 mol/l tartaric acid with current density of 0.5 mA/cm² was also investigated, and the crossover where the magnetic easy axis switches from parallel to perpendicular occurs at a calculated time of about 112 min. The anisotropic magnetism, depending on the rod geometry and density, can be explained in terms of a competition between self-demagnetization and magnetostatic coupling among the nanorods.     

Electrochemical preparation and characterisation of CoPt magnetic particles

CoPt particles of different size and modulate magnetic properties have been prepared by electrodeposition. Particles of growing size from 50 nm until continuous deposits have been obtained and their composition, crystalline structure and magnetic properties have been analyzed. The prepared CoPt particles from 50 nm to 250 nm showed ferromagnetic behaviour so did the continuous deposits. However, drastic changes in magnetism have been detected related to the size of the particles: the smallest particles presented lower coercivity which increases with increasing size, with a maximum value for particles of 150–250 nm diameter. The coercivity decreased when continuous deposits were attained due to the disordered growing and the loss of the surface anisotropy.     

Magnetic and spectroscopic properties of gadolinium tripodal Schiff base complex

Gadolinium(III) tripodal Schiff base (tris(((5-chlorosalicylidene)amino)ethyl)amine) complex has been obtained and investigated by infrared spectroscopy (IR), magnetic susceptibility, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods. Comparison of IR bands in ligand and gadolinium complex confirmed the formation of the gadolinium complex and allowed to propose its structure. Both electron ionization and electron spray molecular spectroscopy spectra confirmed the [1:1] proportion of a ligand to metal in gadolinium tripodal Schiff base complex sample. IR spectroscopy and TG–DTA excluded the presence of water molecule in the metal coordination sphere. X-ray powder analysis applying Fullprof computer program has shown that the investigated sample was monophase with the monoclinic symmetry of the unit cell having the lattice constants: a = 10.028(4) Å, b = 13.282(5) Å, c = 21.20(1) Å and β = 101.58(4)°. Space group P21/c, Z = 4. EPR spectra of the complex have been registered in the 4–300 K temperature range. Each spectrum has been fitted using EPR–NMR computer program and the values of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters at each temperature have been calculated. Temperature dependence of the integrated intensity of the EPR spectrum allowed revealing the magnetic interactions in the spin system of this compound. Comparison of the temperature dependence of dc magnetic susceptibility (χ) and EPR susceptibility (χ_EPR) showed significant differences between these quantities due to the presence of short-lived clusters with a non-magnetic ground state.     

Studies on Cu(II) ternary complexes involving an aminopenicillin drug and imidazole containing ligands

Equilibrium studies on the ternary complex systems involving ampicillin (amp) as ligand (A) and imidazole containing ligands viz., imidazole (Him), benzimidazole (Hbim), histamine (Hist) and histidine (His) as ligands (B) at 37 °C and I = 0.15 mol dm^?3 (NaClO₄) show the presence of CuABH, CuAB and CuAB₂. The proton in the CuABH species is attached to ligand A. In the ternary complexes the ligand, amp(A) binds the metal ion via amino nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atom. The CuAB (B = Hist/His)/CuAB₂ (B = Him/Hbim) species have also been isolated and the analytical data confirmed its formation. Non-electrolytic behavior and monomeric type of chelates have been assessed from their low conductance and magnetic susceptibility values. The electronic and vibrational spectral results were interpreted to find the mode of binding of ligands to metal and geometry of the complexes. This is also supported by the g tensor values calculated from ESR spectra. The thermal behaviour of complexes were studied by TGA/DTA. The redox behavior of the complexes has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The antimicrobial activity and CT DNA cleavage study of the complexes show higher activity for ternary complexes.     

Uncommon perspectives in palladium- and copper-catalysed arylation and heteroarylation of terminal alkynes following Heck or Sonogashira protocols: Interactions copper/ligand,formation of diynes,reaction and processes in ionic liquids

Conjugated alkynes are recurring building blocks in natural products and in a wide range of important compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, or molecular materials. The palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction between the sp²-hybridized carbon atoms of aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl halides with the sp-hybridized carbon atoms of terminal alkynes is one of the most important developments in the field of alkyne chemistry over the past 50 years. Room for improvement still exists in these important reactions of direct arylation of terminal alkynes. In this prospect, the present authors have developed several strategies aiming at improving the reactivity, the selectivity, and several aspects of processes involving the palladium-catalysed alkyne arylation and heteroarylation reactions, in relation with sustainable chemistry. Various original approaches have thus been adopted: (i) the development of catalytic systems efficient at low metal loading below 1 mol% of palladium and copper (to reduce metal contamination) from polydentate ligands chemistry, (ii) the limitation of diyne formation by undesired side-reaction, this from a better mechanistic understanding and the innovating use of copper adducts, (iii) and the development of cost-efficient catalytic reactions in ionic liquid solvents. These topics have been developed with the general outlook of a large scope in organic synthesis. In addition, the investigation of recycling opportunities and the unprecedented production of extendedly conjugated bis(aryl)diynes has been also achieved. The present account reviews all this work, as it has been presented by the corresponding author at GECOM–CONCOORD 2012 as recipient of the 2012 European journal of Inorganic Chemistry Young Investigator Award.     

Revisiting the main group cyclopentadienyl metal complexes in terms of the through-space coupling concept

The structures and properties of metal complexes are traditionally treated in terms of hybridization and electronic ligand effects. What is notoriously neglected, however, is the fact that in such an aggregate the ligands approach so closely to one another — on the order of van der Waals (vdW) distances — that intramolecular packing effects come into play. Actually, non-bonded interactions between any atoms bonded to some central atom are increasingly recognized as an important factor in determining bond distances, bond angles and the like. The class of the main group cyclopentadienyl (Cp) metal complexes appears to be a case study in this respect, because of the large extension of the Cp group and its ring structure on the one hand, and on the other, the minimal d-orbital involvement, dissimilar to the transition-metal analogues. It is shown that the diverse array of structural arrangements, such as linear, ring-slipped, bent, and polymeric chain structures, as well as their reactivities, are brought under the umbrella of one treatment with the aid of the through-space coupling (TSC) concept. This is the molecular orbital representation of vdW repulsive–attractive forces. As a central feature, the individual ligands are at first combined to a united system of TSC orbitals and then allowed to interact with the metal AOs. The energy splitting of the TSC orbitals and the electron density shift from one of them to a vacant metal orbital determine the repulsive and attractive interligand forces and hence fine-tune the geometry of the complex. Along these lines a physical explanation for the interplay between vdW attraction and repulsion becomes available. More specifically we are dealing here with complexes of the type Cp′_nML_m (n=1–3, m=0–3) via united {Cp′_nL_m} molecular orbitals. Bending and slipping of the Cp′ ligands are rooted in vdW attraction and repulsion, respectively, with geometry and hapticity of the Cp′-metal bonding adjusted so as to optimize TSC.     

A structure-based analysis of the vibrational spectra of nitrosyl ligands in transition-metal coordination complexes and clusters

The vibrational spectra of nitrogen monoxide or nitric oxide (NO) bonded to one or to several transition-metal (M) atom(s) in coordination and cluster compounds are analyzed in relation to the various types of such structures identified by diffraction methods. These structures are classified in: (a) terminal (linear and bent) nitrosyls, [M(σ-NO)] or [M(NO)]; (b) twofold nitrosyl bridges, [M₂(μ₂-NO)]; (c) threefold nitrosyl bridges, [M₃(μ₃-NO)]; (d) σ/π-dihaptonitrosyls or “side-on” nitrosyls; and (e) isonitrosyls (oxygen-bonded nitrosyls).Typical ranges for the values of internuclear N–O and M–N bond-distances and M–N–O bond-angles for linear nitrosyls are: 1.14–1.20 Å/1.60–1.90 Å/180–160° and for bent nitrosyls are 1.16–1.22 Å/1.80–2.00 Å/140–110°. The [M₂(μ₂-NO)] bridges have been divided into those that contain one or several metal–metal bonds and those without a formal metal/metal bond (M?M). Typical ranges for the M–M, N–O, M–N bond distances and M–N–M bond angles for the normal twofold NO bridges are: 2.30–3.00 Å/1.18–1.22 Å/1.80–2.00 Å/90–70°, whereas for the analogous ranges of the long twofold NO bridges these are 3.10–3.40 Å/1.20–1.24 Å/1.90–2.10 Å/130–110°. In both situations the N–O vector is approximately at right angle to the M–M (or M?M) vector within the experimental error; i.e. the NO group is symmetrical bonded to the two metal atoms. In contrast the threefold NO bridges can be symmetrically or unsymmetrically bonded to an M₃-plane of a cluster compound. Characteristic values for the N–O and M–N bond-distances of these NO bridges are: 1.24–1.28 Å/1.80–1.90 Å, respectively. As few dihaptonitrosyl and isonitrosyl complexes are known, the structural features of these are discussed on an individual basis.The very extensive vibrational spectroscopy literature considered gives emphasis to the data from linearly bonded NO ligands in stable closed-shell metal complexes; i.e. those which are consistent with the “effective atomic number (EAN)” or “18-electron” rule. In the paucity of enough vibrational spectroscopic data from complexes with only nitrosyl ligands, it turned out to be very advantageous to use wavenumbers from the spectra of uncharged and saturated nitrosyl/carbonyl metal complexes as references, because the presence of a carbonyl ligand was found to be neutral in its effect on the ν(NO)-values. The wide wavenumber range found for the ν(NO) values of linear MNO complexes are then presented in terms of the estimated effects of net ionic charges, or of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating ligands bonded to the same metal atom. Using this approach we have found that: (a) the effect for a unit positive charge is [plus 100 cm^?1] whereas for a unit negative charge it is [minus 145 cm^?1]. (b) For electron-withdrawing co-ligands the estimated effects are: terminal CN [plus 50 cm^?1]; terminal halogens [plus 30 cm^?1]; bridging or quasi-bridging halogens [plus 15 cm^?1]. (c) For electro donating co-ligands they are: PF₃ [plus 10 cm^?1]; P(OPh)₃ [?30 cm^?1]; P(OR)₃ (R = alkyl group) [?40 cm^?1]; PPh₃ [?55 cm^?1]; PR₃ (R = alkyl group) [?70 cm^?1]; and η⁵-C₅H₅ [?60 cm^?1]; η⁵-C₅H₄Me [?70 cm^?1]; η⁵-C₅Me₅ [?80 cm^?1]. These values were mostly derived from the spectra of nitrosyl complexes that have been corrected for the presence of only a single electronically-active co-ligand. After making allowance for ionic charges or strongly-perturbing ligands on the same metal atom, the adjusted ‘neutral-co-ligand’ ν(NO)*-values (in cm^?1) are for linear nitrosyl complexes with transition metals of Period 4 of the Periodic Table, i.e. those with atomic orbitals (…4s3d4p): [ca. 1750, Cr(NO)]; [1775,Mn(NO)]; [1796,Fe(NO)]; [1817,Co(NO)]; [ca. 1840, Ni(NO)]. Period 5 (…5s4d5p): [1730 Mo(NO)]; [—, Tc(NO)]; [1745,Ru(NO)]; [1790,Rh(NO)]; [ca. 1845, Pd(NO)]. Period 6 (…6s4f5d6p), [1720,W(NO)]; [1730,Re(NO)]; [1738,Os(NO)]; [1760,Ir(NO)]; [—, Pt] respectively. Environmental differences to these values, e.g. data taken in polar solutions or in the crystalline state, can cause ν(NO)* variations (mostly reductions) of up to ca. 30 cm^?1.Three spectroscopic criteria are used to distinguish between linear and bent NO groups. These are: (i) the values of ν(¹⁴NO) themselves, and (ii) the isotopic band shift – (IBS) – parameter which is defined as [ν(¹⁴NO)–ν(¹⁵NO)], and, (iii) the isotopic band ratio – (IBR) – given by [ν(¹⁵NO/ν¹⁴NO)]. The former is illustrated with the ν(¹⁴NO)-data from trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) and tetragonal pyramidal (TP) structures of [M(NO(L)₄] complexes (where M = Fe, Co, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir and L = ligand). These values indicate that linear (180–170°) and strongly bent (130–120°) NO groups in these compounds absorb over the 1862–1690 cm^?1 and 1720–1525 cm^?1-regions, respectively. As was explicitly demonstrated for the linear nitrosyls, these extensive regions reflect the presence in different complexes of a very wide range of co-ligands or ionic charges associated with the metal atom of the nitrosyl group. A plot of the IBS parameter against M–N–O bond-angle for compounds with general formulae [M(NO)(L)_y] (y = 4, 5, 6) reveals that the IBS-values are clustered between 45 and 30 cm^?1 or between 37 and 25 cm^?1 for linear or bent NO groups, respectively. A plot of IBR shows a less well defined pattern. Overall it is suggested that bent nitrosyls absorb ca. 60–100 cm^?1 below, and have smaller co-ligand band-shifts, than their linear counterparts.Spectroscopic ν(NO) data of the bridging or other types of NO ligands are comparatively few and therefore it has not been possible to give other than general ranges for ‘neutral co-ligand’ values. Moreover the bridging species data often depend on corrections for the effects of electronically-active co-ligands such as cyclopentadienyl-like groups. The derived neutral co-ligand estimates, ν(NO)*, are: (a) twofold bridged nitrosyls with a metal–metal bond order of one, or greater than one, absorb at ca. 1610–1490 cm^?1; (b) twofold bridged nitrosyl ligands with a longer non-bonding M?M distance, ca. 1520–1490 cm^?1; (c) threefold bridged nitrosyls, ca. 1470–1410 cm^?1; (d) σ/π dihaptonitrosyl, [M(η²-NO)], where M = Cr, Mn and Ni; ca. 1490–1440 cm^?1. Isonitrosyls, from few examples, appear to absorb below ca. 1100 cm^?1.To be published DFT calculations of the infrared and Raman spectra of complexes with formulae [M(NO)_4?n(CO)_n] (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively) are used as models for the assignments of the ν(MN) and δ(MNO) bands from more complex metal nitrosyls.