Prefixes
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Prefixes
In homework problem 9C.3 there's a complex name containing "bisoxalato." What's the difference between using bi-, tri-, tetra- and using bis-, tris-, and tetrakis- and when do we use each set of prefixes? Thanks!
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Re: Prefixes
Hello Junwei Sun 4A! To answer your question, I think Dr. Lavelle mentioned two cases in which you would use the "bis-", "tris-", "tetrakis-"... etc. One would be if there is a "di-", "tri-", "tetra-"... etc. already in the ligand. Take for example, ethylenediamine. If you have to ethylenediamine, then you must use the prefix "bis-" because it would be confusing to have two "di-" prefixes in the ligand.
bis-ehtylenediamine instead of di-ethylenediamine
The next case would be if the ligand is polydentate, meaning that it can bind to the transition metal in multiple spots due to its structure and availability of lone pair of electrons. In your example, oxalate is known to be bidentate, meaning that it can bind to the transition metal in two different places. If you had two oxalates, then you would use the prefix "bis-" to denote the two oxalates
bis-oxalato instead of di-oxalato
I hope this helps!
bis-ehtylenediamine instead of di-ethylenediamine
The next case would be if the ligand is polydentate, meaning that it can bind to the transition metal in multiple spots due to its structure and availability of lone pair of electrons. In your example, oxalate is known to be bidentate, meaning that it can bind to the transition metal in two different places. If you had two oxalates, then you would use the prefix "bis-" to denote the two oxalates
bis-oxalato instead of di-oxalato
I hope this helps!
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