A. What is a Metal Tris Chelate?

Metal Tris Chelates are an interesting class of (beautiful) molecules that have a metal ion attached to three bidentate (therefore chelating) ligands. The arrangement of the atoms produces a propeller shaped molecule.

Our first example is the tris(phenanthroline)ruthenium(II)2+ ion Ru(phen)32+ shown top left. (More Info / Reference)

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The second example is the Tris(acetonylacetonate)chromium(III) molecule shown bottom left. (More Info / Reference)

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Resources developed by Marion E. Cass, Carleton College and updated in 2014. Computations and content done in consultation with Henry S. Rzepa, Imperial College, London