What are homoleptic complexes?

Homoleptic complexes are coordination compounds in which all the ligands surrounding a central metal atom are the same. In other words, all the ligands in the complex are identical. These complexes are characterized by their uniformity in terms of ligand type, which can simplify their study and analysis in comparison to heteroleptic complexes, where different types of ligands are attached to the central metal atom.

Homoleptic complexes are often used in research and practical applications to investigate the properties and behavior of specific ligands and metal-ligand interactions. They can provide valuable insights into the coordination chemistry of the metal center and the ligand's effect on the properties of the complex, such as color, stability, reactivity, and more.

For example, a common example of a homoleptic complex is [Ni(CO)4], tetracarbonylnickel(0), where all four ligands surrounding the nickel atom are carbon monoxide (CO) molecules.

The study of both homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes contributes to our understanding of coordination chemistry and has various applications in fields such as catalysis, materials science, and bioinorganic chemistry.