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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Synergic bonding?

Definition 20.4 University Chemistry — Year 3 · Chapter 20 — Organometallic Chemistry: Bonding and Ligands

Synergic bonding is the mutual reinforcement of σ\sigma donation from a ligand to a metal and π\pi back-donation from the metal to the ligand: donation makes the metal richer in electrons and readier to give them back, back-donation relieves the charge built up by donation.

Synergic bonding of carbon monoxide. Left: the carbon lone pair ( orbital) donates into an empty -type metal orbital. Right: a filled metal d orbital (d_xz, with its two axes) overlaps the empty π* orbital of CO, larger on carbon, whose lobes match its phases: electrons flow back into an orbital that is antibonding between C and O.
Synergic bonding of carbon monoxide. Left: the carbon lone pair (σ\sigma orbital) donates into an empty σ\sigma-type metal orbital. Right: a filled metal dd orbital (dxzd_{xz}, with its two axes) overlaps the empty π∗\pi^* orbital of CO, larger on carbon, whose lobes match its phases: electrons flow back into an orbital that is antibonding between C and O.
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