INORGANIC CHEMISTRY CH 431

LABORATORY INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL INTRODUCTION

The University of Texas at Austin

Department of Chemistry

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 3
Safety Guidelines 4
General Report Guidelines 5
Inert Atmosphere Arrangement 6
Experiment 1: SciFinder 7
Experiment 2: Thermochromism 8
Experiment 3: Symmetry 10
Experiment 4: EPR 13
Experiment 5: Cobalt Spectrochemical series 17
Experiment 6: Dimolybdenum tetraacetate 23
Experiment 7: Ferrocene 25

List of Experiments/Activities
1. How to Search the Scientific Literature Using SciFinder
2. Thermochromism of inorganic cluster compounds
3. Symmetry of cobalt complexes
4. EPR Study of Vanadium Complexes ***subject to change
5. Coordination Complexes of Cobalt and the spectrochemical series
6. Dimolybdenum Tetraacetate Mo2(OAc)4
7. Preparation and Purification of Ferrocene
8. Final Project
Experiments 6 and 7 may be performed in a different order depending on the
specific section you are in.

Point breakdown for lab assignments

Assignment Total Points

1. SciFinder Literature search homework 50
2. Thermochromism experimental and 50
results (truncated lab report)
3. Symmetry lab report (full report) 100
4. EPR lab report (full report) 100
5. Crystal field theory lab report (full report) 100
6. Molybdenum lab report (full report) 100
7. Ferrocene lab report (full report) 100
8. Final projects (powerpoint presentation) 100

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Inorganic Chemistry (CH 431) Laboratory Manual
This manual details the experiments and procedures to be followed in the laboratory
section of CH 431. Details for specific experiments will be provided to you as the
semester proceeds. Read through it and use this manual as a guide for safety, grading,
and the conducting of experiments during the semester. Please be advised that there
may be instances when this manual may not be followed exactly due to space, time, or
safety considerations. Your T.A. will advise you of any possible changes as well as
answer any questions you may have about the course.

Preparing for each experiment:

You are expected to be adequately prepared before coming to each of the laboratory
class periods. This includes, but is not limited to, a thorough reading of the experiment
that is to be performed. You should have a good idea of what it is you are going to do
before coming to the laboratory class period. Please read the introduction and safety
precautions that follow before coming to your first laboratory class period. The
information contained in these sections concerns your safety and the inert nitrogen gas
atmosphere apparatus. These instructions and safety precautions will apply to all of the
experiments and they should be referred to periodically throughout this laboratory
course.

PRE-LAB: A detailed pre-lab must be completed in your laboratory notebook prior to

the lab period to ensure that you are ready to start the experiment once you get to the
laboratory. This pre-lab will count for part of your lab report grade and will be evaluated
by your TA prior to starting your experiment. An example laboratory notebook pre-lab
page is provided for you on the CH 431 Canvas page. This pre-lab includes:

1) The balanced reaction equation for the experiment. Please include compound
structures (drawn by hand using pen or using ChemDraw software).
2) A table that lists the compounds to be used and their amounts, equivalence,
molecular weights, appearance, and hazards. This should follow the general
template below:

Molecular
Reagent Amount Equivalence Weight Appearance Hazards
(g/mol)
Water 40 mL 13 18 Clear liquid N/A
Me2Cl2Si 20 mL 1 129 Clear liquid Corrosive
NaCl 2g 0.2 58 White solid N/A

3) The complete procedure written into the lab notebook. It does not need to be
copied verbatim, but well enough so that it can be used to complete the lab
experiment.

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LAB NOTEBOOK: Following the pre-lab section, all specific observations of your
experiment should be recorded in your lab notebook. These include masses and
volumes measured, observations of what is occurring in your reaction flask (bubbling?
Color changes? Precipitate formation?), any spectroscopic measurements performed
and their results, etc.

Safety Guidelines
The following safety rules will be obeyed at all times by everyone in the laboratory.
Failure to properly abide by these rules will be grounds for dismissal from the laboratory
period and/or dropped from the course.

Safety goggles will be worn at all times by all personnel in the laboratory. Anyone
discovered in the laboratory not wearing safety goggles will be dismissed from
the laboratory section. NO EXCUSES!

No open-toed shoes or shorts will be allowed in the laboratory.

All flasks used in the laboratory should be labeled, whether they are solvents,
compounds, or starting materials. Any flasks or vials discovered without labels
will be discarded by the T.A.

Note the location and types of fire extinguishers (e.g., CO2, dry powder, etc.) that
have been strategically placed around the laboratory room.

Do not pour any organic solvents or wastes down the sink. Deposit all waste in
the properly labeled containers.

Research the hazards associated with the starting materials and products formed
in the reaction before you attend lab. This information can be found by referring
to the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) located in the chemistry library.

Attendance Policy
It is absolutely required that you attend each laboratory session and arrive on time. Late
arrivals (unless previously OKed by your TA) will be penalized via deduction from lab
report grades. There will be a 5 point penalty for every 10 minutes you are late to your
laboratory session, with a maximum of 30 minutes. This penalty will be applied to the
lab report of the experiment which you were late. If you are more than 30 minutes late,
then you will not be allowed to complete that days laboratory experiment. This policy
will apply to both days of two week experiments.

All absences must be accompanied by proof of a legitimate reason for missing lab
(doctors note, etc.). If you must miss lab, then you must communicate with your TA the
reason for your absence. If approved, you must make your best effort to make-up the

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experiment in another laboratory section in a timely manner. Failure to do so will result
in a zero for that laboratory experiment.

General Report Guidelines

Each report will be worth 100 points. Attendance and a complete pre-lab are mandatory.
Failure in either regard will have a negative effect on your report grade.

An electronic template will be provided for you to structure your report. Follow the
template carefully, as a full explanation of the report requirements is contained in each
section. In general, your reports should be structured in accordance with the ACS Style
Guide, which can be found on reference in the chemistry library. Please use this
reference as a guide for writing each report. For specific examples, please use the
current peer reviewed literature as a guide (e.g. ]. Am. Chem. Soc., Inorg. Chem., etc.).

An approximate point distribution follows, however this may change depending on the
experiment. Any changes will be clarified by your TA and included in documents
associated with an experiment. Late lab reports will be subject to minus 10% per
day they are late.

Pre-lab 5
Proper template use/formatting 5
Abstract 5
Introduction 20-25
Experimental method 10-15
Results & Discussion 40-50
Conclusion 3-5
References 2-5
Spectra and Notebooks Pages 5-15

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 lnert Atmosphere Arrangement

Most of today's inorganic chemistry involves the manipulation of compounds which are
sensitive to air. This laboratory will use a nitrogen gas source for the inert atmosphere
as shown in the following setup:

This is one of the most simple and yet effective techniques in working with air
sensitive compounds. This system involves conducting the refluxing, distilling, and other
steps in the synthesis of a compound, under a blanket of nitrogen gas. The key point to
remember when using an inert atmosphere is that a slight positive pressure must be
maintained. This means that a slow, steady flow of nitrogen gas should be visible
through the bubbler, ensuring that any leaks will flow out of the system and not in to it.

It would be wise to become familiar in the handling air-sensitive materials before coming
to the first lab period. The library should have this information.

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Experiment 1: SciFinder Exercise

This is an exercise that you must complete outside of lab this week. Your TA will hold
office hours in case you have questions.

1) Follow the steps in CH431_SciFinderGuide.pdf posted on Piazza. This takes you

through the basics of how to sign up for a SciFinder account and perform a structure
search. Further guidance on how to use SciFinder can be found on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/2s-KpZ5tYBs?list=PLB5yoyDBtQbWofS6c7g1riYrc2nD1Y3BR

2) Complete the CH431_SciFinder_homework.docx posted on Piazza. This

assignment will be due in your designated lab section during Week 4 (September 12-
16)

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Experiment 2: Preparation and Luminescent Thermochromism of Unusual
Tetranuclear Copper(I)-Pyridine-Iodide Clusters

Background
In this experiment you will synthesize a copper polynuclear cluster starting from
common reagents and following a very simple procedure. These copper complexes
form unique, tetranuclear, cubane-like clusters which are different than most common
metal coordination complexs. You will then demonstrate a peculiar photophysical
property of this material: the color of its luminescent emission varies sharply when it is
cooled in liquid nitrogen versus when it is at room temperature (phenomenon called
luminescent thermochromism).
Safety Note: Copper salts are harmful and dangerous for the environment. Acetonitrile
and pyridine are highly flammable. Concentrated sulfuric acid is corrosive. Pyridine and
many substituted pyridines are very toxic. The preparation should be carried out under a
fumehood. Gloves and goggles should be worn at all times. The waste solutions MUST
be collected in the waste containers provided.
Pre-Lab Note: Your pre-lab should be written in three parts for this lab. The first part
will be the synthesis of the copper(I) iodide. The second part will be the synthesis of the
Cu4I4Py4 clusters and the third part will be the demonstration of the luminescent
thermochromism. An example pre-lab write-up for a multi-step lab is provided for you on
Canvas. If you have any questions about this pre-lab, dont hesitate to contact your TA
for help.

Procedure
Synthesis of Copper(I) Iodide (CuI)
1. Dissolve CuSO45H2O (6.5mmol) in 15 mL of water in a 50 mL beaker. Using a
separate beaker, cool 20 mL of acetone to 0 oC.
2. In a separate 100 ml beaker equipped with a stir bar, dissolve Na2SO3 (4.0
mmol) in 30 mL of water.
3. When all of the Na2SO3 has dissolved, slowly add concentrated sulfuric acid (4.0
mmol) to the solution. CAUTION! A small amount of toxic SO2 (g) will be
evolved. Make sure to perform this step in a fume hood!
4. To the 100 mL beaker, add the CuSO4 solution.
5. In a separate 50 mL beaker, dissolve KI (6.5mmol) in 10 mL of water.
6. Once the solid is fully dissolved, add the KI solution to the solution in the 100 mL
beaker. Precipitation of the CuI should be instantaneous but allow the solution to
stir for 5 minutes to maximize your yield of CuI.
7. Collect the precipitate using vacuum filtration, then wash the precipitate twice
with 100 mL of water each time, followed by two washes with the cold acetone.
8. Pull vacuum on the precipitate for 5 minutes to allow it to fully dry, then collect
the precipitate and record the mass.

Synthesis of the Cu4I4Py4 Cluster

Note: For this portion, you will need to calculate how much KI, ascorbic acid, and
pyridine (Py) you will need based on your yield from the CuI synthesis above. The

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equivalence (eq) for each reagent is provided for you below, with the CuI being your
limiting reagent. If you are unsure about how to do this, please consult your TA for help.
1. In a 100 mL beaker, dissolve all of the synthesized CuI in 15 mL of acetonitrile.
2. While the solution is stirring, add ascorbic acid (0.02 eq) and potassium iodide
(0.70 eq). This should result in a yellow solution.
3. In a 10 mL vial, dissolve pyridine (1.00 eq) in 5 mL of acetonitrile. Pyridine has a
very strong smell to it. Keep the solution in the fume hood as much as
possible.
4. Add the pyridine solution to the yellow CuI solution and allow it to stir for 5
minutes.
5. Add 25 mL of water to the solution to complete the precipitation of the Cu4I4Py4
clusters.
6. Collect the solid via vacuum filtration then wash it with 50 mL of water twice
followed by a single wash with 50 mL of ethanol.
7. Pull vacuum over the solid for 5 minutes to allow it to dry.
8. Collect the solid and record your yield.

Demonstration of Luminescent Thermochromism

1. Add a spatula-tip of the Cu4I4Py4 cluster to a 10 mL vial then add a few drops of
water to form a suspension.
2. Expose the sample to long-wave UV light and record any observations you see.
3. Using tweezers, dip the vial in the Dewar flask containing liquid nitrogen for 20
seconds. CAUTION! Liquid nitrogen is a cryogen and will cause burns with
contact to your skin.
4. Immediately expose the sample again to the UV light. Leave the vial in front of
the UV light and allow it to warm back to room temperature. Record any
observations that you see, take pictures if that is helpful.

Lab Report: For this report, you will only need to write an experimental section and a
results and discussion section. Please also attach your lab notebook pages. The pre-lab
is worth 15 points, the experimental section is worth 15 points, and the results &
discussion section is worth 20 points.

Reference
Parmeggiani, F.; Sacchetti, A. J. Chem. Educ. 2012, 89, 946.

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Experiment 3 - Cobalt Symmetry Lab

Background
Group theory (symmetry and point groups) helps us understand the bonding and
properties of molecules. In fact, the symmetry of a compound can help us predict its
spectroscopic properties (NMR, IR, etc.). Conversely, the spectroscopic features of a
compound can help us predict its symmetry and structure. In organic chemistry, for
example, we can predict how many 1H NMR peaks different benzene derivatives have
(benzene: 1 peak, bromobenzene: 3 peaks, 1,2-dibromobenzene: 2 peaks). This is all
based on the symmetry of these compounds. This same method can be used for three-
dimensional metal complexes. In this laboratory you will prepare two cobalt(III)
complexes derived from two different tetradentate ligands, and the symmetries of these
complexes will be explored using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C
NMR). Figure 1 below shows the general structures of the two cobalt complexes you will
by synthesizing, where X can be considered any general anion. Note the subtle
difference in the naming of the ligands: trien (triethylenetetramine) versus tren (tris(2-
aminoehtyl)amine).

This experiment will be divided into two weeks. The first week will be devoted to the
synthesis of [Co(tren)(NO2)2]Cl and [Co(trien)(NO2)2]Cl. The second week will involve
the purification of these two complexes. The experiment will be performed in groups of
4, where half of the group will make [Co(tren)(NO2)2]Cl and the other half will make
[Co(trien)(NO2)2]Cl. However, your lab report should include the procedure for both
complexes.

Safety Note: Tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, triethylenetetramine hydrate, and 12M HCl are

all corrosive. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is a potential carcinogen. Care should be taken not
to mix the NaNO2 with the 12M HCl, as this releases toxic NO2 gas.

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Procedure Week 1
Synthesis of [Co(tren)(NO2)2]Cl
1. Dissolve CoCl26H2O (6.98 mmol) in 2.27 mL of H2O in a 25 mL Schlenk flask.
2. To this solution, add NaNO2 (24.06 mmol).
3. In a separate beaker, make 3.27 mL of 3.67 M HCl from 12.1M HCl. Submerge
the beaker in a room temperature water bath while making the HCl solution.
Remember, always add acid to water!
4. To the 3.67 M HCl solution that is still submerged in a room temperature water
bath, slowly add tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (11.35 mmol) in a dropwise fashion.
5. Slowly add the tris(2-aminoethyl)amine solution to the CoCl26H2O/NaNO2
solution.

The set-up for steps 6-9 will be demonstrated by your TA. The purpose of these steps is
to oxidize the Co(II) complex made in step 5 into the desired Co(III) complex.

6. Place a septum pierced with a glass tube onto the top of the Schlenk flask,
making sure the tube is submerged into the solution.
7. Attach the air aspirator to the sidearm of the Schlenk flask then clamp the flask
onto a ring stand.
8. Cool the solution to 0 oC then pull air through the solution using the air aspirator
for 90 minutes, keeping the solution at 0 oC.
9. While the solution is aerating, cool 20 mL of water to 0 oC.
10. Collect the yellow-brown precipitate by vacuum filtration.
11. Rinse the precipitate with ice-cold water three times.
12. Allow the precipitate to air dry for 1 week.
Synthesis of [Co(trien)(NO2)2]Cl
1. Dissolve CoCl26H2O (6.98 mmol) in 2.27 mL of H2O in a 25 mL Schlenk flask.
2. To this solution, add NaNO2 (24.06 mmol). Stir the solution until everything is
fully dissolved then cool the solution to 0 oC.
3. In a separate beaker, dissolve triethylenetetramine hydrate (1.66 g) in 2.27 mL of
H2O. Place this beaker in a room temperature water bath.
4. To the triethylenetetramine solution, CAREFULLY add 1 mL of 12.1M HCl in a
dropwise fashion.
5. Slowly add the triethylenetetramine solution to the CoCl26H2O/NaNO2 solution.

The set-up for steps 6-9 will be demonstrated by your TA. The purpose of these steps is
to oxidize the Co(II) complex made in step 5 into the desired Co(III) complex.

6. Place a septum pierced with a glass tube onto the top of the Schlenk flask,
making sure the tube is submerged into the solution.
7. Attach the air aspirator to the sidearm of the Schlenk flask then clamp the flask
onto a ring stand. Re-submerge the Schlenk flask in a 0 oC bath.
8. Pull air through the solution using the air aspirator for 90 minutes, keeping the
solution at 0 oC.
9. While the solution is aerating, cool 20 mL of water to 0 oC.
10. Collect the golden yellow precipitate by vacuum filtration.

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 11. Rinse the precipitate with ice-cold water three times.
12. Allow the precipitate to air dry for 1 week.

Procedure Week 2
Recrystallization of [Co(tren)(NO2)2]Cl and [Co(trien)(NO2)2]Cl
NOTE: The procedure to recrystallize both cobalt complexes is the same, but they
must be performed in separate beakers.
1. Heat 20 mL of H2O to ~70 oC. At the same time, cool 20 mL of acetone and 10
mL of water to 0 oC.
2. While the water is heating, collect the precipitate from week 1 and place in a
beaker.
3. Fully dissolve the precipitate in the smallest amount of hot H2O as possible.
4. Allow the solution to cool to room temperature, then place the beaker in an ice
bath for 20 minutes.
5. Collect the product by vacuum filtration.
6. Wash the precipitate with ice-cold water twice, then with ice-cold acetone three
times.
7. Dry the product by pulling air through the Buchner funnel for 5 minutes.
8. Record the mass of the collected product.
9. A 13C NMR spectrum of each complex will be provided for you.

Discussion Questions
1. In step three of the synthesis of [Co(trien)(NO2)2]Cl, why was the beaker placed
in a water bath?
2. In terms of 1s2 2s2 etc., what is the electronic configuration of N? What is the
electron configuration of Co? Co2+? Co3+?
3. List all the symmetry operations present in the [Co(trien)X2]+ and [Co(trien)X2]+
structures provided for you above. For simplicity, ignore the hydrogens in the
structures.
4. What are the point groups of [Co(trien)X2]+ and [Co(trien)X2]+?
5. How do the 13C NMR spectra of the two complexes synthesized in lab compare
to each other? If they are different, explain why. If they are the same, also
explain why.
6. What would the point group of the two complexes above be if one of the X
ligands was different than the other (so [Co(trien)XL]+ and [Co(trien)XL]+)? How
many peaks in the 13C NMR would you expect to see of each complex?
7. Scifinder: Find another paper that uses [Co(tren)(NO2)2]Cl (not the J Chem Ed
paper referred to below). Give the citation and title of this paper.

Reference
McClure, M. J. Chem. Ed. 2008, 85, 420.

Lab report
You should write a full lab report for this experiments including an introduction (2-3
paragraphs approximately), experimental, results, discussion (including discussion
questions), and conclusion.

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Experiment 4: Exploring paramagnetism in transition metal complexes

The relative energies of the d-orbitals in transition metal complexes impart this class of
compounds with many of the interesting properties they exhibit including their vibrant colors and
magnetic properties. More specifically, the electron occupancy of the d-orbitals is often
responsible for these properties. A paramagnetic compound refers to a compound that contains
unpaired electrons. Contrastingly, a diamagnetic compound refers to a compound in which all of
the electrons are paired. The presence of unpaired electrons often dictates the spectroscopic
studies allowed in the analysis of transition metal complexes. For example, the presence of
unpaired electrons in a paramagnetic compound dramatically reduces relaxation times in NMR
spectroscopy, resulting in broad signals that provide little information. Instead, these type of
compounds may be studied by other techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance
(EPR) spectroscopy, super-quantum interference device (SQUID), or magnetic circular
dichroism (MCD). These spectroscopic techniques in concert with each other can provide useful
information about the electronic environment surrounding the metal center including the number
of unpaired electrons, ligand interactions, and temperature-dependent paramagnetism.

Many of these same properties of paramagnetic compounds can also be studied by a

simple benchtop analysis using an Evans balance, a more modern version of the Guoy
balance. Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr, section 10.1.2, has a nice discussion of paramagnetism
and use of the Guoy method to measure magnetic susceptibility. The Evans balance (see figure
below) uses two magnets that will be affected by the presence of a paramagnetic species,
causing a beam deflection that can then be detected by optical sensors. The number output
from the instrument can then be converted to a magnetic susceptibility and effective magnetic
moment using a series of equations that will be detailed below. For more information on how
this instrument works, refer to this website:
http://www.sherwood-scientific.com/msb/msbindex.html

Figure 1. Schematic of Evans balance.

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 In this study, you will use an Evans balance to calculate a magnetic moment for three
compounds (Figure 2), which can then be used to calculate the number of unpaired electrons
that each compound has. This can further provide information on the coordination environment
around the metal center. In this experiment, transition metal complexes containing vanadium,
iron, and zinc centers will be synthesized and studied in order to compare experimental
magnetic moments with predicted values and also determine the number of unpaired electrons
in the compounds of interest.
Additionally, an EPR spectrum of the vanadium compound will be obtained to further
show how paramagnetic compounds can be spectroscopically characterized. EPR (electron
paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy), is a technique that probes systems with unpaired
electrons. EPR is a technique similar to NMR spectroscopy, but utilizes the spin flip of electron
ms values in contrast to the nuclear spin, or I, of atoms. These electron transitions are very low
in energy, necessitating EPR measurements to be performed at liquid nitrogen or liquid helium
temperatures (4 K). As a result of the small energy transitions, the signals associated with EPR
transitions tend to be broad, and are instead reported as a derivative of the intensity. Similar to
NMR, signals from unpaired electrons can be split by coupling of the electron spin with the
nuclear spin of neighboring nuclei according to the equation 2NI+1. For example, the EPR
signal of a single unpaired electron with 4 equivalent neighboring phosphorus atoms (I=1/2) will
result in the singlet electron signal being split into a quintet because 2(4)(1/2)+1=5. In this
experiment, the bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) compound provides a nice, easily
interpretable EPR spectrum in which the 2NI+1 rule is evident. For more information, see this
website: http://epr.cm.utexas.edu/what-epr

Figure 2. Compounds used in this experiment. Top left: acetylacetonate ligand. Top middle:
vanadium complex. Top right: iron complex. Botton: zinc complex

Procedure

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Note: For greater time efficiency, these syntheses should be carried out simultaneously, with
each partner preparing one complex.

Synthesis of bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium (IV)

1. In a small beaker or flask (50 mL) with a magnetic stir bar, dissolve vanadyl sulfate
(6.14 mmol) in 10 mL deionized water.
2. Add acetylacetone (14.60 mmol) and stir for 15 minutes.
3. Slowly add very small portions (roughly the size of a spatula tip) of solid sodium
bicarbonate to the reaction mixture with vigorous stirring. Continue adding until the
evolution of CO2 ceases. The sodium bicarbonate will be used in excess, so it is not
important to know exactly how much is added.
4. Stir the reaction for an additional 15 minutes.
5. Collect the solid by vacuum filtration. Wash the solid with 5 mL portions of cold DI
water until all of the excess sodium bicarbonate has been removed. Then perform
two washes with 5 mL portions of cold acetone, each.
6. Pull vacuum over the solid for 5 minutes to allow it to fully dry.
7. Collect an IR spectrum of the complex and prepare a sample for magnetic
susceptibility measurements as outlined below. Your TA will provide you with the
EPR spectrum of the complex.

Synthesis of FeIII(acac)3

1. In a small beaker (50 mL), dissolve iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (3.7 mmol) in
approximately 20 mL deionized water with a magnetic stir bar.
2. Add 20% aqueous KOH solution until the pH of the solution is 8
3. Let the precipitate settle, and decant the colorless supernatant. Note: it may be
necessary to add additional deionized water in order to decant the solution
4. Vacuum filter the precipitate and wash two times with 10 mL cold water
5. Transfer the precipitate to a new beaker (50 mL) and add acetylacetone (12.2 mmol)
mixing thoroughly with a glass rod to create a slurry
6. Let the reaction stand for 30 minutes at room temperature with occasional stirring,
then cool in a ice bath for 15 minutes
7. Vacuum filter the product and sufficiently dry by pulling air over the product
8. Collect an IR spectrum of the complex and prepare a sample for magnetic
susceptibility measurements as outlined below.

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Benchtop Magnetic Susceptibility Analysis
You should perform this analysis with the vanadium and iron compounds you synthesized, as
well as with zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH3COO)2!2H2O) (three compounds total). Make sure to
record all values for all three complexes!

1. Place an empty tube into the balance and obtain the reading, which should be
recorded as R0 in your notebook.
2. Measure approximately 0.1000 g of the metal complex of interest and record the
exact mass in your lab notebook as m
3. Transfer the metal complex into one of the magnetic susceptibility tubes and record
the length of the sample (in cm) in the tube in your lab notebook as L
4. Place the tube in the balance and obtain the reading, which should be recorded as
R in your lab notebook
5. Obtain the calibration constant from your TA, this should be recorded as C in your
lab notebook.

Calculation Guide:
The reading from the magnetic susceptibility balance enables you to directly calculate the gram
susceptibility of a compound using equation 1 below:

CL(R R0 )
g = (1)
10 9 m
Where,

C = calibration constantof the

balance
L= length of sample in cm (1>1.5cm.)

m = mass of sample in gm

R = balance reading for sample in tube

Ro = balance reading for empty tube

Note: The calibration constant (C) and the balance reading for the empty tube will be provided
for you R0.

The gram susceptibility can be converted to a molar susceptibility by multiplying by the molar
mass of the metal complex as shown in equation 2:

m = g M (2)

Finally, the experimental magnetic moment, or eff , can be calculated by equation 3:

eff = 2.828 m T (3)

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Discussion Questions:

1. Give the point group and predict the number of unpaired electrons for the V(IV), Fe(III), and
Zn(II) compounds.

2. What are the theoretical spin-only eff for each compound? What are the experimental
values you obtained for each compound? Why might these values be different?

3. Predict the EPR spectrum of the vanadium complex. How many lines do you observe in the
experimental spectrum?

4. What is the role of sodium bicarbonate in the synthesis of

bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV)? How does potassium hydroxide function differently
than sodium bicarbonate in the synthesis of Fe(acac)3?

5. SciFinder: What is the most recent journal article (not patent) to use
bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) as a reactant or reagent? Provide the title of the
article, the authors, and the journal in which the article can be found. Make sure to provide
the proper citation for this article in your references section.

Lab report requirements: A full lab report will be required for this experiment. Please show
your work for the calculations described in the Calculations Guide (above) as an appendix at
the end of your report. These can be written out by hand or typed.

References:

1. Ebsworth, E. V. A.; Rankin, D. W. H.; Cradock, S., Chapter 3: Electron Spin and
Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectroscopy. In Structural Methods in Inorganic
Chemistry, Second ed.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, 1991; pp 115-141.

2. Choudhary, B. M.; et. al. Process for the preparation of metal acetylacetonates. U.S.
Patent 2,004,056,737, July 8, 2004.

3. Sherwood Scientific. Magnetic Susceptibility Balance. http://www.sherwood-

scientific.com/msb/msbindex.html. (accessed on Oct. 3, 2016).

17

Experiment 5 Coordination Complexes of Cobalt and the Spectrochemical
Series

Background
As discussed in class, crystal field theory predicts that the degeneracy of the valence d-
orbitals of a transition metal will be broken by the electrostatic field created by
coordinated ligands. The symmetry of the complex and the ligand field splitting energy
(a measure of field strength) determines the energy differences between the valence d-
orbitals in a transition metal complex. In an octahedral field, these are the t2g and eg
symmetry sets of orbitals, as shown below.

In transition metal complexes, these energy differences fall within the ultra-violet and
visible ranges, giving the often intense colors associated with transition metal chemistry.
Thus, UV/Vis spectroscopy (a form of electronic spectroscopy) can be used to directly
measure the energy differences between these electronic states. The observed color of
an object is due to perception of the light reflected (i.e. not absorbed) by it. Thus, the
color of a substance is the compliment of the color absorbed by it, which can be
deduced using the color wheel below. For example, if a compound appears red, it is
absorbing primarily green light.

In this experiment, you will be empirically determining a spectrochemical series for

several ligands discussed in lecture (Cl-, H2O, ONO-, NO2-, NH3) based upon the UV/Vis
spectra of a series of analogous high-spin pseudo-octahedral Co(III) complexes. Each
group will synthesize a different complex and share their spectrum with the rest of the

18

class. A comparison of these collected spectra will allow for determination of the relative
field strengths of the ligands.

Topics to include in your Introduction: Background information on coordination

compounds, ligand field strengths, and spectrochemical series; definition and theory
behind UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Safety Note: Concentrated hydrochloric acid, aqueous ammonia, and hydrogen

peroxide are extremely caustic, causing serious burns on contact. In addition,
concentrated hydrochloric acid and ammonia produce significant amounts of caustic
vapors. They must be handled with due care in the fume hood.

Prelab: There is no prelab for this experiment. However, your observations from the
experiment should still be recorded in your laboratory notebook.

Lab Report: You will only need to write an experimental for the complex that you make.
However, you are still required to discuss all of the complexes in the rest of the lab
report.

Procedure

Synthesis of [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2

1. In a fume hood, add 5.0 g ammonium chloride to 30 mL concentrated aqueous

ammonia in a 250 mL beaker. (The combination of NH4Cl and NH3 (aq.)
guarantees a large excess of the NH3 ligand.)

2. Stir the ammonium chloride solution vigorously while adding 10.0 g CoCl2 6
H2O. Next, add dropwise 8 mL 30% hydrogen peroxide to the brown slurry. Note:
Care should be taken to avoid excessive effervescence in this exothermic
reaction. (If the reaction shows signs of excessive effervescence, turning off the
magnetic stirrer momentarily will usually prevent overflow of the solution.)

3. When the effervescence has ceased, add 30 mL concentrated HCl with

continuous stirring, pouring about 1 - 2 mL at a time. Cover the beaker with a
watch glass and heat the solution to 60 C while stirring. Hold this temperature
and continue stirring for 15 min (this incubation period is necessary to allow
complete displacement of all aquo ligands).

4. Add 25 mL deionized water and allow the solution to cool to room temperature.
Collect the purple product by vacuum filtration. Wash once with 15 mL ice cold
deionized water and twice with 15 mL ice cold ethanol (the solutions must be
cold to prevent undue loss of product by redissolving).

19

 5. Pull vacuum over the product for 5 minutes to allow it to dry. Transfer the product
to a large watch glass then get the TA to help you place the product on the watch
glass in the oven for several minutes to help speed up the drying of the product.
Record the mass of the final product.

Synthesis of [Co(NH3)5(H2O)]Cl3

1. Add 2.0 g [Co(NH3)5CI]Cl2 to a 250 mL beaker, followed by 25 mL H2O and 5 mL

concentrated aqueous ammonia. (Using aqueous ammonia as the solvent
prevents displacement of the NH3 ligands.)

2. Cover the beaker with a watch glass and heat to 100 oC while stirring on a hot
plate in the hood until the compound fully dissolves to form a dark merlot colored
solution.

3. Cool the solution in an ice bath. Add concentrated HCl dropwise (~20 mL) with
stirring until a red precipitate appears and a fog (ammonium chloride vapor) no
longer forms above the solution. (Under these conditions, ligand exchange
between [Co(NH3)5Cl]2+ and [Co(NH3)5(H2O)]3+ is very rapid. The aquo trichloride
complex is isolated by this procedure, because it is much less soluble than the
chloro dichloride.)

4. Cool the reaction mixture in an ice bath, then collect the product by vacuum
filtration. Wash the bright red solid twice with 15 mL ethanol and then pull
vacuum over the product for 5 minutes to allow it to dry. Record the mass of your
final product.

Synthesis of [Co(NH3)5ONO]Cl2

1. Add 1.5 g [Co(NH3)5CI]Cl2, 20 mL H2O, and 10 mL concentrated aqueous

ammonia to a 250 mL beaker. Cover with a watch glass and heat to 100 oC in the
fume hood while stirring until a merlot colored solution is formed.

2. Cool the solution in an ice bath and add 6 M HCl slowly while stirring until the
solution is neutral to litmus. (Approximately 15-20 mL. The use of 6 M HCl rather
than concentrated HCl dilutes the solution sufficiently so that the aquo salt will
not precipitate).

3. Add 1.5 g sodium nitrite followed by 2 mL 6 M HCl. Allow the reaction mixture to
stand in an ice bath for at least an hour to precipitate the product.

4. Collect the salmon colored product by vacuum filtration. Wash the product with
15 mL ice-cold water then 15 mL ice-cold ethanol. Pull vacuum over the product
for 5 minutes to allow it to dry. Record the mass of your final product.

20

Synthesis of [Co(NH3)5NO2]Cl2

1. Add 1.5 g [Co(NH3)5CI]Cl2, 20 mL H2O, and 10 mL concentrated aqueous ammonia

to a 250 mL beaker. Cover with a watch glass and heat to 100 oC in the fume hood
while stirring until a merlot colored solution is formed.

2. Cool the solution to room temperature in a room temperature water bath and add 6
M HCl slowly while stirring until the solution is slightly acidic to litmus.
(Approximately 15-20 mL. The use of 6 M HCI rather than concentrated HCI dilutes
the solution sufficiently so that the aquo salt will not precipitate).

3. Add 2.0 g sodium nitrite and heat covered until all of the initial red precipitate
dissolves. Cool the solution in an ice bath and slowly add 20 mL concentrated HCl
while stirring. Allow the reaction mixture to stand in the ice bath until precipitation of
the product is complete.

4. Collect the burnt orange product by vacuum filtration. Wash the product with 15 mL
ice-cold water then 15 mL ice-cold ethanol. Pull vacuum over the product for 5
minutes to allow it to dry then record the mass.

Synthesis of [Co(NH3)6]Cl3

1. Add 5.0 g CoCl2 6H2O and 3.3 g NH4Cl to 30 mL water in a 250-mL beaker. In
the hood, add 1.0 g activated charcoal and 45 mL concentrated aqueous
ammonia.

2. Cool the brown slurry in an ice bath and add 4 mL 30% H2O2 drop wise over
several minutes. Do not allow the temperature to rise above 10 C.

3. When effervescence has ceased, heat the resulting red-brown solution to 60 C

and maintain this temperature for 30 min. (The incubation is needed to ensure
complete displacement of all aquo ligands.)

4. Cool the mixture in an ice bath; the product will precipitate from the solution.
Collect the product and the charcoal by filtration. (Recrystallization will be
necessary to separate the product from the activated charcoal.)

5. Place the solid in a 250 mL beaker and add 40 mL water along with 1 mL
concentrated HCl. Heat the mixture to 70 C then remove the activated charcoal
by vacuum filtration by filtering the solution while it is still hot. Transfer the
collected filtrate to a new beaker.

6. Place the filtrate in an ice bath in the hood and add 1 mL concentrated HCl.
Collect the orange solid by vacuum filtration. Wash the product with 15 mL ice-

21

 cold ethanol. Pull vacuum over the solid for 5 minutes to allow it to dry then
record the mass.

Preparation of UV-Vis Samples

1. In a beaker, dissolve 0.1 g of your product in 40 mL of H2O.

2. Fill a cuvette of the way full with the aqueous solution of your product.
Your TA will help you collect the absorption spectrum for your product.
3. Collect the absorption spectrum of your product over the 400 nm 650 nm
range. Your TA will show you how to use the ultraviolet-visible
spectrophotometer. Once the spectrum of each product has been recorded, your
TA will provide you with the final overlayed spectrum of the products.

Discussion Questions

1. Discuss the colors of the products with reference to their wavelength of maximum
absorbance. It would be helpful to reference the color wheel shown at the
beginning of the procedure for this question.

2. From this information, compare the relative field strengths of the ligands
(chloride, aquo, nitrito, nitro, and ammine) and construct a spectrochemical
series. What ligand induces the largest o? What ligand induces the smallest o?

3. Give the electronic configuration for the cobalt ions in these complexes, along
with the metal oxidation state and electron count. Calculate the ligand field
stabilization energy (LFSE) for both the low spin and high spin electronic
configurations. Calculate the s (spin only magnetic moment) for both the low
spin and high spin configurations.

4. In Scifinder, do a Research Topic

search for spectrochemical series
(see below). Only look at references
that contain spectrochemical series
as entered. What is the oldest
reference you find for this topic?
Make sure to use the proper citation
format for this reference.

References
1. Williams, G. M.; Olmstead, J.; Breska,
A. P. J. Chem. Ed., 1989, 66, 1043.

2. Walton, H. F.; Inorganic Preparations; Latimer, W. M., Ed.; Prentice Hall:

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1948; pp 92-93.

22

Experiment 6 - Dimolybdenum Tetraacetate Mo2(OAc)4

Background
Dimolybdenum tetracetate was originally synthesized by Wilkinson and coworkers in
1964 with a proposed structure1 which was determined by crystal x-ray diffraction in
1965 by Lawton and Mason.2 The product was determined to be moisture sensitive thus
the reagents needed to be treated under anhydrous conditions (dry solvent, nitrogen
atmosphere) to obtain an optimum yield. The decomposition occurs slowly over several
days to weeks at room temperature.3

Molybdenum hexacarbonyl is refluxed in a solution of neat acetic acid and a small

amount of acetic anhydride under nitrogen. After approximately 20 hours the solution is
allowed to cool and yellow needle-like crystals are filtered, washed and dried. This Mo
dimer can be used as a starting material for many Mo-Mo compounds.4

Metal-metal bonding has been intensely studied by Cotton and Wilkinson for several
decades. Molybdenum is known for having multiply-bonded M2 units than any other
metal. The total number of Mo2 compounds is over 1100.5 In this experiment a
quadruple Mo-Mo bond is formed. The overlap of d-orbitals is fundamental in
understanding the geometry of the product. You will need to demonstrate an
understanding of d-orbitals and their overlap.6

Mo(CO)6 has six carbonyls coordinated to it and has a simple and characteristic
infrared (IR) spectrum. A copy of this spectrum will be provided for you and you
will use a sample of your product to take an IR of Mo2(OAc)4. These two IRs can
be compared, especially the intensity and energies of the C-O stretching
frequencies. Hint: Are there other organic bonds that will be displayed in the IR
for Mo2(OAc)4?

Topics to include in your Introduction: Background information on molybdenum;

background information on multiple metal-metal bonds; definition and theory behind IR
spectroscopy.

Safety Note: The metal carbonyl, Mo(CO)6, is extremely toxic. Avoid contact with your
skin. It will be handed to you in 1.0 gram aliquots by your TA. This experiment should be
carried out in a fume hood, under an inert nitrogen atmosphere.

23

Procedure Day 1

1. Place acetic acid (1.75 mol) and acetic anhydride (0.11 mol) in a 250 mL round
bottom flask equipped with a stir bar.

2. Degas the mixture for 5 minutes with a gentle flow of nitrogen and stopper the
flask with a rubber septum.

3. In one step, the TA will quickly add the molybdenum hexacarbonyl (3.79 mmol).
The student will then attach a reflux condenser equipped with a nitrogen gas inlet
(make sure there is a good seal between the reflux condenser and the round
bottom flask). Maintain a steady flow of nitrogen to the reflux condenser in order
to keep the reaction under an inert atmosphere.

4. Heat the reaction mixture until the temperature reads 180 C on the thermometer
(the TA will provide you with a high temperature thermometer). In the beginning
stages of the reflux and reaction, some of the metal carbonyl will sublime into the
condenser. Minimize this amount by carefully controlling the reaction
temperature. You may leave once the thermometer reads 180 5 C consistently
for 10 minutes.

5. Reflux the mixture for 20 hours. Your TA will return to turn off the oil baths and
reflux condensers.

Procedure Day 2

1. A crystalline material having the appearance of yellow needles should have fallen
out of the reaction mixture.

2. Vacuum filter the brownish slurry to collect the yellow needle crystals on the filter
paper. lf the crystalline material seems to be clinging to the sides of the round
bottom flask, rinse the flask out with a small portion of ethanol. It may take
several of these ethanol rinses to completely remove all of the yellow needle
crystals.

3. Wash the crystals with two 40 mL portions of ethanol followed by two 40 mL

portions of diethyl ether. Dry the crystals by drawing air over the filter paper using
the vacuum filtration apparatus for 5 minutes.

4. Record the mass of the collected product then obtain an IR spectrum of your
product. Please refer to Canvas for the IR spectrum of the starting material,
Mo(CO)6.

24

Discussion Questions

1. Give the point groups and draw the structures of the starting material and
product.

2. How many d-electrons do Mo(CO)6 and Mo2(OAc)4 each have? What are the
metal oxidation states for Mo(CO)6 and Mo2(OAc)4?

3. Discuss the metal-metal bonding of the compound you have made in terms of the
specific (dxz, dyz, etc.) d-orbital overlaps. Which orbital(s) are used to bond the
acetate ligands? Which orbital(s) are involved in the Mo-Mo bond? Include a
diagram of all of the molecular orbitals involved.

4. What is a delta bond and how does it compare to sigma and pi bonds (geometry,
energy, etc.)?

5. What was the role of acetic anhydride in this reaction?

6. SciFinder: Draw the structure of the final product into SciFinder but replace Mo
with M (M stands for any metal), draw only a single bond between M and M, and
use the locking tool to lock all of the atoms in the acetate ligands. Search for only
conventional structures. List the three most common metals found in these
structures, in order of most common to least common.

References

1. Stephenson, T. A.; Bannister, E.; Wilkinson, G. J. Chem. Soc., 1964, 2538.

2. Lawton, D.; Mason, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1965, 87, 921.

3. Inorganic Syntheses 1972, 13, 88.

4. Cotton, F. A.; Wilkinson, G. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 5th Ed.; Wiley: New
York, 1988; pp 840-843.

5. Cotton, F. A. Multiple Bonds Between Metal Atoms; Springer: New York, 2006;
Ch 4.

6. Shriver, D. F.; Atkins, P.; Langford, C. H. Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed.;

Freeman: New York, 1994; Ch 1, 24.

25

Experiment 7 - Preparation and Purification of Ferrocene

Background
Ferrocene was synthesized originally by Paulson in an attempt to prepare the aromatic
molecule fulvalene. Its precise nature was described later by Wilkinson and Woodward.
Ferrocene is an organometallic compound, comprising direct bonds between a metal, in
this case iron, and an organic group. The compound is remarkably stable for an
organometallic compound due to its electron configuration. Any organometallic
compound containing a transition metal that has 18 electrons in its outer shell has an
electron configuration equivalent to a noble gas and so is reluctant to participate in
reactions. Ferrocene is an 18-electron compound and so is relatively stable.

Ferrocene is a member of the family of metallocenes, compounds with the general

formula M(C5H5)2, of which there are many examples. These compounds have a
number of features in common, the most interesting of which are their "sandwich"
structure and their fluxional behavior. The cyclopentadienyl rings rotate rapidly about
the axis defined by the center of the metal and the centroid of the ring, giving rise to an
I
H NMR spectrum that shows equivalence for all ten protons at ambient temperatures.
Ferrocene has been applied in many areas of contemporary technology, including
biological chemistry, and is commonly used as a reference for electrochemistry due to
its characteristic, highly reversible Fe(II/III) couple.

In this experiment, we will prepare ferrocene, purify it, and examine its electrochemical
properties. The electrochemical properties that you will specifically explore are the
voltages (versus a Ag/AgNO3 reference electrode) at which the oxidation of ferrocene
occurs, the reduction of ferrocenium (the oxidized version of ferrocene) occurs, and the
E1/2 of the ferrocene/ferrocenium electrochemical signal. The E1/2 is simply the voltage
at which 50% of the product is in the reduced state and 50% of the product is in the
oxidized state.

26

Topics to include in your Introduction: Background information on ferrocene and its
characterization; definition of sublimation; definition and basic theory behind
electrochemistry.

Safety Note: Cyclopentadiene has a strong, unpleasant odor! Use it in the fume hood.

Procedure Day 1

1. Prepare a solution of FeCl24 H2O (13.83 mmol) in dimethylsulfoxide (25 mL).

Vigorous stirring on a stir plate for an extended period may be required to fully
dissolve the solute. While the mixture is stirring, continue on with the rest of the
experiment.

2. Degas 60 mL 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) with nitrogen gas in a 250 mL Schlenk

flask equipped with a stir bar. Place a septum on the Schlenk flask once done
degassing to minimize exposure to the air.

3. Against a strong stream of nitrogen add KOH (160.41 mmol), followed by freshly
cracked cyclopentadiene (23.78 mmol). Re-seal the top of the Schlenk flask with
a rubber septum then stir the reaction mixture vigorously under a nitrogen
atmosphere until the solution turns a deep red color, approximately 30 minutes.

4. Attach an addition funnel to the flask and add the ferrous chloride solution to the
reaction mixture slowly over a period of 25 minutes. Continue stirring for a further
30 minutes. Note: Do NOT add ANY solid to the dropping funnel, as it will clog.

5. Disassemble the apparatus and pour the contents into a 400 mL beaker
containing ice and 6 M hydrochloric acid (90 mL). Rinse the Schlenk flask with a
small aliquot of ice to transfer as much of the reaction mixture as possible. Stir
the resulting slurry with a glass rod for 15 minutes and collect the solid by
filtration (Buchner funnel). Wash the solid in the Buchner funnel with distilled
water (4 x 15 mL) and air dry in your drawer until the next laboratory period.

Procedure Day 2

1. Measure the yield of the dried crude product powder from the previous session.
Then place the crude ferrocene onto a Petri dish in a thin layer that does not
touch the sides. Make sure to break up any large clumps.

2. Cover the Petri dish with a pre-weighed watch glass and place the apparatus on
a hot plate. Warm the assembly gently to 80 C for approximately 1 hour, during
which time the ferrocene will sublime onto the glass cover.

3. Remove the cover with the purified ferrocene and record the mass.

27

 4. At this point the TA will take a small amount of one groups purified ferrocene and
perform cyclic voltammetry on the sample to demonstrate ferrocenes
electrochemical properties.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the point group of both staggered and eclipsed ferrocene? Which
conformation is most common in its solid state form?

2. Is ferrocene air sensitive? Why did you use Schlenk techniques in the synthesis?

3. Why did you collect the product with ice and HCl?

4. Compare the purification method of sublimation used and its yield in terms of the
crude product to other common purification techniques (column chromatography,
recrystallization, etc.).

5. Discuss the metal oxidation state and electron count for ferrocene in terms of its
stability. Please refer to Miessler, Fischer, and Tarr chapter 13, section 3 for an
explanation on electron counting.

6. At what voltage did the oxidation of ferrocene occur; at what voltage did the
reduction of ferrocinium (the oxidized version of ferrocene) occur? What was the
voltage for the E1/2 of ferrocene?

7. SciFinder: Another interesting metallocene is the complex commonly known at

uranocene. Provide the title of the first paper to report the preparation of
uranocene and the authors on that paper.
References

1. P. L. Paulson; T. J. Kealy, Nature, 1951, 168, 1039.

2. S. A. Miller; T. A. Tebboth; J. F. Tremaine, J Chem. Soc., 1952, 632.

3. G. Wilkinson, J. Organometal. Chem., 1975, 100, 275.

4. D. R. van Staveren; N. MetzlerNolte, Chem. Rev., 2004, 104, 5931.

5. J.D. Dunitz; L. E. Orgel; A. Rich, Acta Cryst. 1956, 9, 373.

28