Scorpionate Ligand - Homoscorpionates Vs. Heteroscorpionates

Homoscorpionates Vs. Heteroscorpionates

Trofimenko's initial work in the field was with the homoscorpionates where three pyrazolyl groups are attached to a boron. Since this work a range of ligands have been reported where more than one type of metal binding group is attached to the central atom; these are the heteroscorpionates.

Many other chemists continue to explore the possibilities of scorpionate ligand alternatives, such as:

• utilizing pyrrole, imidazole, or indole compounds in place of the pyrazole rings²;
• the possibility of tripodal heptadentate ligands such as N₄O₃ from the ligand trisamine³;
• Sulfur donor groups such as those found in the Tm ligand or oxygen donor groups.
• changing the ligands to alter the type of molecular encapsulation needed to metals;
• for very different applications, "heteroscorpionate ligands" have been examined of hybrid scorpionate/cyclopentadienyl-lithium compounds such as which catalyzes olefin polymerization.