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Spin states when describing transition metal coordination complexes refers to the potential spin configurations of the central metal's d electrons. For several oxidation states, metals can adopt high-spin and low-spin configurations. The ambiguity only applies to first row metals, because second- and third-row metals are invariably low-spin. These configurations can be understood through the two major models used to describe coordination complexes; crystal field theory and ligand field theory (a more advanced version based on molecular orbital theory).^[1]

High-spin vs. low-spin

Octahedral complexes

The Δ splitting of the d orbitals plays an important role in the electron spin state of a coordination complex. Three factors affect Δ: the period (row in periodic table) of the metal ion, the charge of the metal ion, and the field strength of the complex's ligands as described by the spectrochemical series. Only octahedral complexes of first row transition metals adopt high-spin states.

In order for low spin splitting to occur, the energy cost of placing an electron into an already singly occupied orbital must be less than the cost of placing the additional electron into an e_g orbital at an energy cost of Δ. If the energy required to pair two electrons is greater than the energy cost of placing an electron in an e_g, Δ, high spin splitting occurs.

If the separation between the orbitals is large, then the lower energy orbitals are completely filled before population of the higher orbitals according to the Aufbau principle. Complexes such as this are called "low-spin" since filling an orbital matches electrons and reduces the total electron spin. If the separation between the orbitals is small enough then it is easier to put electrons into the higher energy orbitals than it is to put two into the same low-energy orbital, because of the repulsion resulting from matching two electrons in the same orbital. So, one electron is put into each of the five d orbitals before any pairing occurs in accord with Hund's rule resulting in what is known as a "high-spin" complex. Complexes such as this are called "high-spin" since populating the upper orbital avoids matches between electrons with opposite spin.

The charge of the metal center plays a role in the ligand field and the Δ splitting. The higher the oxidation state of the metal, the stronger the ligand field that is created. In the event that there are two metals with the same d electron configuration, the one with the higher oxidation state is more likely to be low spin than the one with the lower oxidation state; for example, Fe²⁺ and Co³⁺ are both d⁶; however, the higher charge of Co³⁺ creates a stronger ligand field than Fe²⁺. All other things being equal, Fe²⁺ is more likely to be high spin than Co³⁺.

Ligands also affect the magnitude of Δ splitting of the d orbitals according to their field strength as described by the spectrochemical series. Strong-field ligands, such as CN⁻ and CO, increase the Δ splitting and are more likely to be low-spin. Weak-field ligands, such as I⁻ and Br⁻ cause a smaller Δ splitting and are more likely to be high-spin.

Some octahedral complexes exhibit spin crossover, where the high and low spin states exist is dynamic equilibrium.

Light-induced spin-crossover of [Fe(pyCH₂NH₂)₃]²⁺, which switches from high and low-spin.^[2]

Tetrahedral complexes

Fe(4-norbornyl)₄ is a rare example of a low-spin tetrahedral complex.

The Δ splitting energy for tetrahedral metal complexes (four ligands), Δ_tet is smaller than that for an octahedral complex. Consequently, tetrahedral complexes are almost always high spin^[3] Examples of low spin tetrahedral complexes include Fe(2-norbornyl)₄,^[4] [Co(4-norbornyl)₄]⁺, and the nitrosyl complex Cr(NO)((N(tms)₂)₃.

Square planar complexes

Many d⁸ complexes of the first row metals exist in tetrahedral or square planar geometry. In some cases these geometries exist in measurable equilibria. For example, dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) has been crystallized in both tetrahedral and square planar geometries.^[5]

Ligand field theory vs crystal field theory

In terms of d-orbital splitting, ligand field theory (LFT) and crystal field theory (CFT) give similar results. CFT is an older, simpler model that treats ligands as point charges. LFT is more chemical, emphasizes covalent bonding and accommodates pi-bonding explicitly.

High-spin and low-spin systems

In the case of octahedral complexes, the question of high spin vs low spin first arises for d⁴, since it has more than the 3 electrons to fill the non-bonding d orbitals according to ligand field theory or the stabilized d orbitals according to crystal field splitting.

All complexes of second and third row metals are low-spin.

d⁴: Octahedral high-spin: 4 unpaired electrons, paramagnetic, substitutionally labile. Includes Cr²⁺ (many complexes assigned as Cr(II) are however Cr(III) with reduced ligands^[6]), Mn³⁺.; Octahedral low-spin: 2 unpaired electrons, paramagnetic, substitutionally inert. Includes Cr²⁺, Mn³⁺.

d⁵: Octahedral high-spin: 5 unpaired electrons, paramagnetic, substitutionally labile. Includes Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺. Example: Tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III).; Octahedral low-spin: 1 unpaired electron, paramagnetic, substitutionally inert. Includes Fe³⁺. Example: [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻.

d⁶: Octahedral high-spin: 4 unpaired electrons, paramagnetic, substitutionally labile. Includes Fe²⁺, Co³⁺. Examples: [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺, [CoF₆]³⁻.; Octahedral low-spin: no unpaired electrons, diamagnetic, substitutionally inert. Includes Fe²⁺, Co³⁺, Ni⁴⁺. Example: [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺.

d⁷: Octahedral high-spin: 3 unpaired electrons, paramagnetic, substitutionally labile. Includes Co²⁺, Ni³⁺.; Octahedral low-spin:1 unpaired electron, paramagnetic, substitutionally labile. Includes Co²⁺, Ni³⁺. Example: [Co(NH₃)₆]²⁺.

d⁸: Octahedral high-spin: 2 unpaired electrons, paramagnetic, substitutionally labile. Includes Ni²⁺. Example: [Ni(NH₃)₆]²⁺.; Tetrahedral high-spin: 2 unpaired electrons, paramagnetic, substitutionally labile. Includes Ni²⁺. Example: [NiCl₄]^2-.; Square planar low-spin: no unpaired electrons, diamagnetic, substitutionally inert. Includes Ni²⁺. Example: [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻.

Ionic radii

The spin state of the complex affects an atom's ionic radius. For a given d-electron count, high-spin complexes are larger.^[7]

d⁴: Octahedral high spin: Cr²⁺, 64.5 pm.; Octahedral low spin: Mn³⁺, 58 pm.

d⁵: Octahedral high spin: Fe³⁺, the ionic radius is 64.5 pm.; Octahedral low spin: Fe³⁺, the ionic radius is 55 pm.

d⁶: Octahedral high spin: Fe²⁺, the ionic radius is 78 pm, Co³⁺ ionic radius 61 pm.; Octahedral low spin: Includes Fe²⁺ ionic radius 62 pm, Co³⁺ ionic radius 54.5 pm, Ni⁴⁺ ionic radius 48 pm.

d⁷: Octahedral high spin: Co²⁺ ionic radius 74.5 pm, Ni³⁺ ionic radius 60 pm.; Octahedral low spin: Co²⁺ ionic radius 65 pm, Ni³⁺ionic radius 56 pm.

d⁸: Octahedral high spin: Ni²⁺ ionic radius 69 pm.; Square planar low-spin: Ni²⁺ ionic radius 49 pm.

Ligand exchange rates

Generally, the rates of ligand dissociation from low spin complexes are lower than dissociation rates from high spin complexes. In the case of octahedral complexes, electrons in the e_g levels are anti-bonding with respect to the metal-ligand bonds. Famous "exchange inert" complexes are octahedral complexes of d³ and low-spin d⁶ metal ions, illustrated respectfully by Cr³⁺ and Co³⁺.^[8]

References

^ Miessler, Gary L.; Donald A. Tarr (1998). Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-841891-8.
^ Gütlich, P. (2001). "Photoswitchable Coordination Compounds". Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 219–221: 839–879. doi:10.1016/S0010-8545(01)00381-2.
^ Zumdahl, Steven (2009). "19.6 Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry: The Crystal Field Model". Chemical Principles. Cengage Learning, Inc. ISBN 978-0538734561.
^ Bower, Barton K.; Tennent, Howard G. (1972). "Transition Metal Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-1-yls". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 94 (7): 2512–2514. doi:10.1021/ja00762a056.
^ Batsanov, Andrei S.; Howard, Judith A. K. (2001). "trans-Dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) Bis(dichloromethane) Solvate: Redetermination at 120 K". Acta Crystallogr E. 57: 308–309. doi:10.1107/S1600536801008741. S2CID 97381117.
^ Scarborough, Christopher C.; Sproules, Stephen; Doonan, Christian J.; Hagen, Karl S.; Weyhermüller, Thomas; Wieghardt, Karl (2012). "Scrutinizing Low-Spin Cr(II) Complexes". Inorganic Chemistry. 51 (12): 6969–6982. doi:10.1021/ic300882r. PMID 22676275.
^ Shannon R.D. (1976). "Revised effective ionic radii and systematic studies of interatomic distances in halides and chalcogenides". Acta Crystallographica. A32 (5): 751–767. doi:10.1107/S0567739476001551.
^ R. G. Wilkins (1991). Kinetics and Mechanism of Reactions of Transition Metal Complexes, 2nd Thoroughly Revised Edition. Weinheim: VCH. doi:10.1002/bbpc.19920960429. ISBN 3-527-28389-7.

[1] Miessler, Gary L.; Donald A. Tarr (1998). Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-841891-8.

[2] Gütlich, P. (2001). "Photoswitchable Coordination Compounds". Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 219–221: 839–879. doi:10.1016/S0010-8545(01)00381-2.

[3] Zumdahl, Steven (2009). "19.6 Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry: The Crystal Field Model". Chemical Principles. Cengage Learning, Inc. ISBN 978-0538734561.

[ten-4] Bower, Barton K.; Tennent, Howard G. (1972). "Transition Metal Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-1-yls". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 94 (7): 2512–2514. doi:10.1021/ja00762a056.

[5] Batsanov, Andrei S.; Howard, Judith A. K. (2001). "trans-Dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) Bis(dichloromethane) Solvate: Redetermination at 120 K". Acta Crystallogr E. 57: 308–309. doi:10.1107/S1600536801008741. S2CID 97381117.

[6] Scarborough, Christopher C.; Sproules, Stephen; Doonan, Christian J.; Hagen, Karl S.; Weyhermüller, Thomas; Wieghardt, Karl (2012). "Scrutinizing Low-Spin Cr(II) Complexes". Inorganic Chemistry. 51 (12): 6969–6982. doi:10.1021/ic300882r. PMID 22676275.

[7] Shannon R.D. (1976). "Revised effective ionic radii and systematic studies of interatomic distances in halides and chalcogenides". Acta Crystallographica. A32 (5): 751–767. doi:10.1107/S0567739476001551.

[8] R. G. Wilkins (1991). Kinetics and Mechanism of Reactions of Transition Metal Complexes, 2nd Thoroughly Revised Edition. Weinheim: VCH. doi:10.1002/bbpc.19920960429. ISBN 3-527-28389-7.

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Organometallic chemistry
Principles	Crystal field theory Ligand field theory 18-electron rule d electron count Polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory Isolobal principle π backbonding Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model Hapticity spin states Agostic interaction Metal–ligand multiple bond
Reactions	Oxidative addition / reductive elimination Migratory insertion β-hydride elimination Transmetalation Carbometalation
Types of compounds	Gilman reagents Grignard reagents Cyclopentadienyl complexes Transition metal indenyl complexes Transition metal fullerene complexes Metallocenes Metal tetranorbornyls Sandwich compounds Half sandwich compounds Transition metal acyl complexes Transition metal carbene complexes Transition metal carbyne complexes Transition metal alkene complexes Transition metal alkyne complexes Transition-metal allyl complexes Transition metal carbides
Applications	Carbonylation Cativa process Grignard reaction Monsanto process Olefin metathesis Shell higher olefin process Ziegler–Natta process
Related branches of chemistry	Organic chemistry Inorganic chemistry Bioinorganic chemistry