Electronic Structure and Properties of Transition Metal Compounds: Introduction to the Theory

Transition metal compounds are a fast–growing field of research with applications in numerous areas, including a variety of important magnetic, ferroelectric, and superconducting materials as well as catalysts and metallobiochemical systems. This book focuses on the electronic structure and related properties of coordination compounds, essentially treating chemical bonding as an electronic phenomenon. Written for students, researchers, and teachers in chemistry and physics, this book covers the central concepts of quantum chemistry and atomic states, examines theories of electronic structure and vibronic coupling, and explores physical methods of investigation. The applications of the theory to stereochemistry and crystal chemistry, electron transfer and electron–conformational effects, and reactivity and catalytic action are also covered. This comprehensive introduction to the theory of transition metal coordination systems: Provides numerous examples that explain how theoretical principles can be applied to problems encountered in the laboratory Explains in simple terms how electronic properties (as well as spectroscopic, magnetic, and electronic density distribution properties) affect various chemical processes and phenomena Discusses for the first time in book form the relativistic effects in bonding, and how these effects account for important properties such as "nobleness" and the yellow color of gold Provides a unique perspective on vibronic effects in chemical and physical phenomena, and shows how the concept of vibronic interactions can be applied to problem solving Includes symmetry group tables, matrix elements, and other calculations in its five appendices, as well as references at the end of each chapter Covering all the latest developments, and applying the theory of electronic structure to problem solving at every opportunity, Electronic Structure and Properties of Transition Metal Compounds places the reader at the cutting edge of this important field of research.