Bridging Ligand - Illustrative Bridging Ligands

Illustrative Bridging Ligands

Virtually all ligands are known to bridge, with the exception of amines and ammonia. Particularly common inorganic bridging ligands include

• OH−,
• O2−,
• S2−,
• SH−,
• NH₂−
• NH2− (imido)
• N3− (nitrido)
• CO
• Halides
• Hydride
• Cyanide

Cyanide usually bridges via M-NC-M' linkages, unlike the other entries on this list.

Many organic ligands form strong bridges between metal centers. Many common examples include derivatives of the above inorganic ligands (R = alkyl, aryl):

• OR−,
• SR−,
• NR₂−
• NR2− (imido)
• P3− (phosphido)
• PR₂− (phosphido, note the ambiguity with the preceding entry)
• PR2− (phosphinidino)