Stereoisomerism in heteroleptic complexes arises from different geometric arrangements of ligands. Examples occur in coordination numbers 4 and 6, such as square planar complexes [MX₂L₂] and octahedral complexes [MX₂L₄].
What causes stereoisomerism in heteroleptic complexes, and provide examples with different coordination numbers?
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Stereoisomerism in heteroleptic complexes arises due to the different spatial arrangements of ligands around the central metal ion. Two main types are geometric isomers and optical isomers (enantiomers). Geometric isomers occur when ligands occupy different positions in space, while optical isomers are non-superimposable mirror images. Examples with different coordination numbers include:
1. [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂] (coordination number 4) exhibits geometric isomerism.
2. [Co(en)₃]³⁺ (coordination number 6) displays optical isomerism.
These examples highlight that stereoisomerism can manifest in heteroleptic complexes with varying coordination numbers, influencing their spatial arrangements and properties.