Examples of complexes derived from common ligands

Ligand Formula Example IUPAC name
water H2O
[Cr(H2O)6]3+		 aqua
eg hexaaquachromium(III) nitrate
halides F-, Cl-, Br-, I- fluoro, chloro, etc.
eg potassium tetrachloroferrate(III)
ammonia NH3 ammine
eg diamminesilver(I) nitrate
cyanide ion CN- cyano
eg potassium pentacyanonickelate(II)
pyridine C5H5N pyridine
eg hexapyridineruthenium(II) chloride
triphenylphosphine P(C6H5)3 triphenylphosphine
eg chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I)
ethylenediamine en
NH2-CH2-CH2-NH2
[Co(en)3]3+		 1,2-diaminoethane
eg tris(1,2-diaminoethane)cobalt(III) iodide
phenanthroline phen - C12H8N2 1,10-phenanthroline
eg tris(1,10-phenanthroline)nickel(II) nitrate
acetate ion CH3COO- ethanoate
eg diaquatetraethanoatodichromate(II) sulfate
oxalate ion C2O42-
K3[Cr(ox)3]		 oxalato
eg potassium tris(oxalato)chromate(III)
acetylacetone acac 2,5-pentanedione
eg tris(2,5-pentanedionato)chromium(III)
8-hydroxyquinoline oxine 8-hydroxyquinolinato
eg bis(8-hydroxyquinolinato)silver(I) ion
glycine gly- glycinato ion
eg cis-bis(glycinato)copper(II)
salen salen N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminate)
eg N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato)cobalt(II)
porphin TPP tetraphenylporphin
eg tetraphenylporphiniron(II) complex??
ethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid
(H4EDTA)		 EDTA4- ion EDTA4- (ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic acid
eg (ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetatocobaltate(III)

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The Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies,
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Created June 1996. Last modified 17th March-99.
URL http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm:1104/courses/comligs.html