Module-2:

Metal Complexes and Organometallics

2024-2025

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 Contents…..(6 hours)

Inorganic complexes - structure, bonding and applications

Organometallics – introduction, stability, structure and

applications of metal carbonyls and ferrocene

Metals in biology: haemoglobin and chlorophyll- structure and

property

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 Inorganic Complexes
• Inorganic/coordination complex is a molecule containing one or multiple metal
centers that is bound to ligands (atoms, ions, or molecules that donate electrons to
the metal).
• These complexes can be neutral or charged. The examples are:
Neutral Complexes: [CoCl3(NH3)3], K4[Fe(CN)6], etc.
Cationic Complex : [CO(NH3)6]3+ and Anionic Complex : [CoCl4(NH3)2]−

Selected examples of metal complexes with names:

[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 --- Chloropentaamminecobalt(III) chloride

[Cr(H2O)4Cl2]Cl --- Dichlorotetraaquochromium(III) chloride
K[PtCl3(NH3)] --- Potassiumtrichloroammineplatinate(II)
[PtCl2(NH3)2] --- Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)
[Co(en)3Cl3] --- tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III)chloride
[Ni(PF3)4] --- tetrakis(phosphorus(III)fluoride)nickel(0) 3
 Structure and Bonding
❖ Double Salt: Double Salts Vs Coordination Compounds
Ferric alum
(NH4)2SO4.Fe2(SO4)3.24H2O
In water: NH4+, SO42-, Fe3+
❖Co-ordination Compounds

3Cl– Fe(CN)2 + 4KCN Fe(CN) 2.4KCN

(counter ion)

ligand
4K+ + [Fe(CN)6]4-
(coordination sphere) M

N forms a coordinate covalent bond

to the metal
Ligands
▪ Molecule or ion having a lone electron pair with an atom (donor) that can be
donated to a metal atom forming a dative bond is called a Lewis base.
▪ coordinate covalent bond: metal-ligand bond
▪ monodentate : one bond to metal ion
▪ bidentate : two bonds to metal ion
▪ polydentate : more than two bonds to a metal ion possible

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Chelating Agents EDTA-Na2

• Bind to metal ions removing them

from solution.
• Phosphates are used to tie up Ca2+
and Mg2+ in hard water to prevent
them from interfering with
detergents.
EDTA-Metal complex

• Important biomolecules like heme

and chlorophyll are porphyrins
Lewis Acid Base Theory - Gilbert N. Lewis, 1920s

❖ Lewis Acid/Base reactions: Base: electron pair donor; Acid: electron pair
acceptor
❖ Ligands: Lewis bases ; Metals: Lewis acids ; Coordinate covalent bonds
❖ Metal Complexes - Formation of a complex was described as an acid - base
reaction according to Lewis

Sidgwick’s Rule

❖ Sidgwick’s Effective atomic number (EAN) rule is based on the octet

theory of Lewis and this is the first attempt to account for the bonding in
complexes.
Werner Coordination Theory
Werner's Theory: Alfred Werner, Swiss chemist put forward a theory to explain the
formation of complex compounds.

trans-

cis-
Limitations:
1. Bonding within coordination sphere.
2. Square planar (or) Tetrahedral
Valence Bond Theory (Linus Pauling, 1931)
Valence bond theory predicts that the bonding in a metal complex arises from overlap of
filled ligand orbitals and vacant metal orbitals.

It does not explain the color indicated by coordination

compounds, the thermodynamic/kinetic stabilities of
coordination complexes. Also, it does not differentiate
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Limitations between weak/strong ligands.
Spectrochemical Series
▪ For a given ligand, the color depends on the oxidation
state of the metal ion.

I- < Cl- < F- < OH- < H2O < SCN- < NH3 < en < NO2- < CN- < CO

WEAKER FIELD STRONGER FIELD

❖ Complexes of cobalt (III)
show the shift in color due
SMALLER LARGER Δ
Δ
to the ligand.
❖ (a) CN–, (b) NO2–, (c) phen,
LONGER λ SHORTER λ (d) en, (e) NH3, (f) gly, (g)
H2O, (h) ox2–, (i) CO3 2–

•For a given metal ion, the color depends on the ligand.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Tetrahedral Geometry
• Tetrahedral copper complex [CuCl4]2-

3d 4s 4p
Cu ground
state 3d94s2

Cu2+

4 e– pairs by Cl– ions

• One unpaired electron - paramagnetic and attracted by magnets—

High spin complexes
Square Planar Geometry
• Square planar nickel complex
[Ni(CN)4]2-
3d 4s 4p
Ni
(3d84s2)

Ni2+

[Ni(CN)4]2-

dsp2
• All paired electrons – diamagnetic - weakly repelled by magnets –
Low spin compelxes
Octahedral sp3d2 Geometry
Gives [CoF6]3– four unpaired electrons, which makes it paramagnetic and is called a high-spin
complex.
Ground state Co= (3d74s2)
Octahedral d2sp3 Geometry

[Fe(CN)6]3- Fe: (3d64s2)

3d 4s 4p

Fe+3

[Fe(CN)6]3-

CN– Strong ligand d2sp3

Bonding in Coordination Compounds
❖ Many of the properties of metal complexes are dictated by their electronic structures.

Crystal field theory (CFT)

❖ Electronic structure can be explained by an ionic model that attributes formal charges on to the metals
and ligands. This forms basis of crystal field theory (CFT), which is considered as the core concept in
inorganic chemistry.
❖ Consider bonding in a complex to be an electrostatic attraction between a positively charged nucleus
and the electrons of the ligands.
▪ Electrons on metal atom repel electrons on ligands.
▪ Focus particularly on the d-electrons on the metal ion.

❖ Ligand field theory (LFT) and the molecular orbital theory (MO) are considered sophisticated models as
compared to CFT. LFT explains complexes, wherein, the interactions are covalent.
 CFT Assumptions
⮚ Interaction between the metal ion
and the ligands are purely
electrostatic (ionic)
⮚ Ligands are considered as point
charges
⮚ Ion-ion interaction, if the ligand is
negatively charged and ion-dipole ⮚ Interaction between electrons of
the cation and those of ligands
interaction, if the ligand is neutral
are entirely repulsive. This is
⮚ Electrons on the metal are under responsible for splitting of d
repulsive from those on the orbitals.
ligands ⮚ CFT does not consider the
⮚ Electrons on metal occupy those overlapping between metal and
ligand orbitals.
d-orbitals farthest away from the
direction of approach of ligands. ⮚ The d-orbitals lose their
degeneracy due to the approach
of ligands during the formation of
complex. 16
 Octahedral Complex and d-Orbital Energies

⮚ For the Oh point group, the dx2-y2, dz2

orbitals belong to the eg irreducible
representation and xy, xz, yz belong to the
T2g representation.

⮚ The splitting extent of these two sets of

orbitals is denoted by ∆0 or 10 Dq. As the
barycenter must be conserved on going
from a spherical field to an octahedral field,
the t2g set must be stabilized as much as the 17
eg set is destabilized.
[Co(NH3)6]3+ > [Co(NH3)6]2+

[Co(NH3)6]3+ = 23,000 cm-1 (3d)

[Rh(NH3)6]3+ = 34,000 cm-1 (4d)

[Ir(NH3)6]3+ = 41,000 cm-1 (5d)

Spectrochemical series (strength of ligand interaction)
Effect of ligand on splitting energy

Increasing Δ
Cl- < F- < H2O < NH3 < en < NO2- < CN-

Increasing Δ

Low spin – color variations shown with increasing CFSE (Cr3+ = 24-3-18 = d3)
Examples

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Some limitations of CFT are as follows:

• This theory only considers the d-orbitals of a central atom. The s and p
orbitals are not taken into account in this study.
• The theory fails to explain the behaviour of certain metals, which exhibit
large splitting while others exhibit minor splitting. For example, the theory
provides no explanation for why H2O is a stronger ligand than OH–.
• The theory excludes the possibility of p bonding. This is a significant
disadvantage because it is found in many complexes.
• The orbitals of the ligands have no significance in the theory. As a result, it
cannot explain any properties of ligand orbitals or their interactions with
metal orbitals.

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Applications of Coordination Compounds

❖ Coordination compounds are of great importance.

❖ Play many important functions in the area of analytical chemistry,
metallurgy, biological systems, industry and medicine.
• Catalysis
• Extraction of metal ions
• Analytical chemistry (development of numerous analytical methods)
• Hardness estimation -
• Biological importance
• Medicinal application
• Industrial application
Extraction / Purification of Metals

⮚ Extraction processes of metals, like those of silver and gold, make use of complex
formation.

❖ These noble metals are extracted from their ore by the formation of cyanide complexes -
dicyanoargentite(I) - [Ag(CN)2]– and dicyanoaurate (I) - [Au(CN)2]– in the presence of oxygen
and water, from which the metallic forms can be separated by the addition of zinc.
▪ Ag2S + 4NaCN 🡪 2 Na[Ag(CN)2] + Na2S
▪ 2 Na[Ag(CN)2] + Zn 🡪 Na2[Zn(CN)4] + 2Ag↓

❖ Purification of metals can be achieved through formation and subsequent decomposition of

their coordination compounds. For example, impure nickel is converted to [Ni(CO)4], which is
decomposed to yield pure nickel (the Mond process).
Detection of Complex Formation
❖In the qualitative methods of analysis, complex formation
is of immense importance in the identification by color
change and separation of most inorganic ions.

❖ Formation of Precipitate
Ni2+ + 2 HDMG [Ni(DMG)2] + 2H+

❖ Ni2+ and Pd2+ form insoluble colored precipitates with dimethyglyoxime

Industrial Applications
• Coordination compounds are used as catalysts for many
industrial processes. Examples rhodium complex,
[(Ph3P)3RhCl], a Wilkinson catalyst – Catalytic hydrogenation of
alkenes. Wilkinson catalyst

Alkene Alkane

• Articles can be electroplated with silver and gold much more

smoothly and evenly from solutions of the complexes, [Ag(CN) 2]–
and [Au(CN)2]– than from a solution of simple metal ions.
• In black and white photography, the developed film is fixed by
washing with hypo solution which dissolves the non decomposed
AgBr to form a complex ion, [Ag(S 2O3)2]3– .
• Prussian blue – Mixture of hexacyanoFe(II) and Fe(III) -
Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 inks, blueprinting, cosmetics, paints (commercial
Hardness of water
❖ Hardness of water is estimated by
titration with the sodium salt of EDTA.
❖ During titration, the calcium and
magnesium ions in hard water form the
stable complexes, Calcium EDTA and
Magnesium EDTA.
❖ Hardness of water is estimated by
simple titration with Na2EDTA.
❖ The selective estimation of these ions
can be done due to difference in the
stability constants of calcium and
magnesium complexes.
Organometallics – Introduction, stability, structure and
applications of metal carbonyls and ferrocene

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What are Organometallics?
❖ An area which bridges organic and inorganic chemistry.
❖ A branch of coordination chemistry where the complex has one or more
metal-carbon bonds.

C always is more electronegative compared to M.

❖ The leading journals of the field define an "organometallic" compound as one in which there is a
bonding interaction (ionic or covalent, localized or delocalized) between one or more carbon atoms
of an organic group or molecule and a main group, transition, lanthanide, or actinide metal atom (or
atoms)
❖ Following longstanding tradition, organic derivatives of metalloids such as boron (B), silicon (Si),
germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), tellurium (Te) are also included in this definition.
Zeise’s Salt- The first transition metal ❖ Discovery 1827
organometallic compound: ❖ Structure ~ 150 years later

First σ-bonded Organometallic Compound- Diethyl Zinc:

3 C2H5I + 3 Zn → (C2H5)2Zn + C2H5ZnI + ZnI2
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Nomenclature of Ligands
“eta-x” was originally developed to indicate how many carbons of a π-system were

η x coordinated to a metal center. Hapticity is another word used to describe the bonding
mode of a ligand to a metal center. An η 5-cyclopentadienyl ligand, for example, has all
five carbons of the ring bonding to the transition metal center.
• ηx values for carbon ligands where the x value is odd usually indicate anionic carbon ligands
(e.g., η5-Cp, η1-CH3, η1-allyl or η3-allyl, η1-CH=CH2)
• The # of electrons donated (ionic method of electron counting) by the ligand is usually
equal to x + 1
• Even ηx values usually indicate neutral carbon π-system ligands (e.g., η6-C6H6, η2-
CH2=CH2, η4-butadiene, η4-cyclooctadiene)
• Number of electrons donated by the ligand in the even (neutral) case is usually just equal to x.

η5-Cp η3-Cp η3-allyl η1-allyl

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❖Organometallic compounds are classified into three types.
• (i) Sigma (σ) bonded organometallic compounds: In these complexes, the metal atom and carbon
atom of the ligand are joined together with a sigma bond,
For Example:
• (a) Grignard reagents, R–Mg–X where R is an alkyl or aryl group, and X is a halogen.
• (b) Zinc compounds of the formula R2Zn such as (C2H5)2Zn
(ii) Pi (π) bonded organometallic compounds:
These are the compounds of metals with alkenes, alkynes,
benzene and other ring compounds. In these complexes, the
metal and ligand form a bond that involves the π-electrons of
the ligand.
(iii) Sigma and π-bonded organometallic compounds
Metal-carbonyl compounds formed between metal and carbon monoxide possess both σ-and π-
bonding. Generally, oxidation state of metal atoms in these compounds is zero.
Stability of Organometallic Compounds
❖ In general terms, the stability of an organometallic compound may refer to either its
thermal stability, or resistance to chemical attack (by air and moisture). Obviously,
these different types of stabilities would depend both on thermodynamic as well as
kinetic factors.

The organometallic compounds are generally hydrolysed via nucleophilic

attack by water, which is facilitated by:
(1) the presence of empty low-lying orbitals on the metal
(2) the polarity of metal-carbon bonds. Rate of hydrolysis is dependent on M-C
bond polarity – greater the polarity, faster will be the rate

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 The 18-electron Rule or Effective atomic number (EAN)
❖ The 18e rule is a way to help us decide whether a given d-block transition metal organometallic
complex is likely to be stable. Not all the organic formulas we can write down correspond to
stable species. Recall: Second row elements (B, C, N, O, F) have 4 valence orbitals (1s + 3p) so
they can accommodate up to 8 valence electrons--the octet rule.
▪ For example, CH5 requires a 5-valent carbon and is therefore not stable. Stable compounds,
such as CH4, have the noble gas octet, and so carbon can be thought of as following an 8e rule.
▪ The 18e rule, which applies to many low-valent transition metal complexes, follows a similar line
of reasoning. The metal now has one s, and three p orbitals, as before, but now also five d
orbitals. We need 18e to fill all nine orbitals; some come from the metal, the rest from the
ligands. Therefore, we can expect that the low-lying MOs can accommodate up to 18 valence
electrons--The 18-Electron Rule.
❖ The rule states that “thermodynamically stable transition metal organometallic
compounds are formed when the sum of the metal d electrons and the
electrons conventionally considered as being supplied by the surrounding
ligands equals 18”
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Counting electrons of a metal complex
To count the electrons of a metal complex, one must:
a) note any overall charge on the metal complex
b) know the charges of the ligands bound to the metal center (ionic ligand method)
c) know the number of electrons being donated to the metal center from each ligand (ionic
ligand method)
Similarly for a transition metal complex, the electron count is the sum of the metal valence
electrons + the ligand centered electrons.
❖ Covalent Model: # e = # metal electrons (zero valent) + # ligand electrons - complex charge
Metal: The number of metal electrons equals its column number (i.e., Ti = 4e, Cr = 6e, Ni =
10e)
Ligands: In general L donates 2 electrons, X donates 1 electron.

❖ Ionic Model: # e = # metal electrons (dn) + # ligand electrons

Metal: Determined based on the number of valence electrons for a metal at the oxidation state
present in the complex
Ligands: In general and L and X are both 2 e donors.
❖ Complexes with 18 e- count are referred to as saturated. 33
❖ Complexes with count lower than 18e- are called unsaturated.
Example 1
Please note that we are using the Ionic Method of electron-counting. 95% of
inorganic/organometallic chemists use the ionic method. The ionic method
assigns formal charges to the metal and ligands in order to keep the ligands
with an even # of electrons and (usually) a filled valence shell. Synthetically,
the ionic method generally makes more sense and the one that we will use in
this course.

1) There is no overall charge on the complex

2) There is one anionic ligand (CH3−, methyl group)
3) Since there is no overall charge on the complex (it Now we can do our electron counting:
is neutral), and since we have one anionic ligand Re(+1) 6e-
present, the Re metal atom must have a +1 charge to 2 PR3 4e-
compensate for the one negatively charged ligand. 2 CO 4e-
The +1 charge on the metal is also its oxidation state. CH3− 2e-
So the Re is the in the +1 oxidation state. We denote
CH2=CH2 2e-
this in two different ways: Re(+1), Re(I), or Re I.
Total: 18e- 34
Other examples
16 e-

16 e-

18 e-

16 e- 16 e- 35
 Metal-Carbonyls

As one goes from a terminal CO-

bonding mode to μ2-bridging and
finally μ3-bridging, there is a relatively
dramatic drop in the CO stretching
frequency seen in the IR.
❖ Standard Bonding Modes

2e- neutral donor 2e- neutral donor 3e- neutral donor

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 Types of CO-Metal bonding interactions

❖Formation of σ-bond:
▪ The overlapping of empty hybrid orbital on metal atom with the filled hybrid orbital of carbon
atom of carbon monoxide molecule through lone pair electrons results into the formation of a
M←CO σ-bond.
❖Formation of π-bond by back donation:
▪ This bond is formed because of overlapping of filled dπ orbitals or hybrid dpπ orbitals of metal
atom with antibonding pi orbitals on CO molecule. 37
Structure of Ni(CO)4

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Applications
1. Metal carbonyls are used in several industrial processes. Perhaps the earliest application
was the extraction and purification of nickel via nickel tetracarbonyl by the Mond
process.
2. Fe(CO)5 is used for the preparation of inductors, pigments, as dietary supplements in the
production of radar-absorbing materials in the stealth technology, and in thermal
spraying.
3. Metal carbonyls are used in a number of industrially important carbonylation reactions.
In the oxo process, an alkene, hydrogen gas, and carbon monoxide react together with a
catalyst (such as HCo(CO)4) to give aldehydes (hydroformylation).
H2 + CO + CH3CH=CH2 → CH3CH2CH2CHO

4. Several other Metal-Carbonyl complexes have been employed in the hydrocarboxylation

and hydrogenation reactions. Dicobalt octacarbonyl [Co2(CO)8] can be used for
hydrosilylation of olefins also.
5. Many organometallic complexes are the sources for the pure metal particles/ metal
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coatings using Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) process.
Structure and Bonding in Ferrocene
• Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates that the iron center in
ferrocene should be assigned the +2 oxidation state.
Each cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ring should then be
allocated a single negative charge. Thus ferrocene could
be described as iron(II) bis(cyclopentadienide) Fe 2+
[C5H5- ]2.
• The number of π-electrons on each ring is then six,
which makes it aromatic according to Hückel's rule.
These twelve π-electrons are then shared with the metal
via covalent bonding. Since Fe2+ has six d-electrons, the
complex attains an 18-electron configuration, which
accounts for its stability. In modern notation, this
sandwich structural model of the ferrocene molecule is
denoted as Fe(η5-C5H5)2.
• Crystallography reveals that the cyclopentadienide
rings are in staggered conformation.
• Hybridization: d2sp3
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• Magnetic Nature: Diamagnetic
Applications of Ferrocene
1. Fuel additives: Ferrocene and its derivatives could be used as antiknock agents in the fuel
for petrol engines. They are safer than previously TEL.

2. Pharmaceutical: Ferrocene derivatives have been investigated as drugs e.g. one drug has
entered clinic trials, Ferroquine (7-chloro-N-(2-((dimethylamino)methyl)ferrocenyl)quinolin-4-
amine), an antimalarial. Ferrocene-containing polymer-based drug delivery systems have
been investigated.
3. Solid rocket propellant: Ferrocene and related derivatives are used as powerful burn rate
catalysts in ammonium perchlorate composite propellant.
4. As a ligand scaffold: Chiral ferrocenyl phosphines are employed as ligands for transition-
metal catalyzed reactions. Some of them have found industrial applications in the synthesis of
pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

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Applications of Ferrocene as a Fuel additive, a smoke suppressant and
a chiral catalyst precursor

Ferrocene powder Ferrocene crystals

Ferox Gas & Diesel Fuel Additive

is a catalyst that is an eco-friendly
fuel additive and horsepower
booster. It allegedly increases
mileage from between 10 and 20%
while also significantly reducing
harmful emissions. 42
 Metals in biology

Contents……Metals in biology (haemoglobin, chlorophyll-

structure and property)
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Chlorophyll- Structure and Property
❖ Structure of Chlorophyll
• Chlorophylls are green pigments with polycyclic, planar
structures resembling the protoporphyrin system present
in haemoglobin
• In chlorophyll, Mg2+ is the metal centre
• The four inward-oriented nitrogen atoms of the porphyrin
ring in chlorophyll are coordinated with the Mg2+
• All chlorophylls have a long phytol side chain, esterified
to a carboxyl-group substituent in ring IV
• Chlorophylls also have a fifth five membered ring not
present in heme
• The heterocyclic five-membered ring system that
surrounds the Mg2+ has an extended polyene structure,
with alternating single and double bonds
• Such polyenes characteristically show strong absorption
in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum
• Chlorophylls have unusually high molar extinction
coefficients (higher light absorbance) and are therefore
particularly well-suited for absorbing visible light during
photosynthesis 44
❖ Chloroplasts always contain both chlorophyll a and
chlorophyll b
❖ Both are green, their absorption spectra are sufficiently
different that they complement each other’s range of light
absorption in the visible region
❖ Both chlorophyll a & b absorb in the blue and red region
so that the remaining green region is transmitted – hence
chlorophylls are green in colour
❖ Most plants contain about twice as much chlorophyll a
as chlorophyll b
❖ Chlorophyll is always associated with specific binding
proteins, forming light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) in
which chlorophyll molecules are fixed in relation to each
other, to other protein complexes, and to the membrane.

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Role of Mg in chlorophyll
❖ Without Mg2+ the chlorin ring is fluorescent –
i.e. the absorbed light energy is emitted back
immediately
❖ With Mg2+ chlorophyll becomes
phosphorescent
❖ In the case of fluorescence, the absorbed
light energy is lost immediately – will not be
used for chemical reaction
❖ In the case of phosphorescence, there will
be excited state of finite life time and the
energy can be used for chemical
reactions
❖ The Mg2+ coordination increase the rigidity
of the planar chlorin ring: The energy loss
as heat due to vibration of the ring during
light absorption is prevented

46
Photosynthesis Reaction

Two types of photosystems

cooperate in the light reactions 47
A Photosynthesis Road Map

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate

Hydrogen (NADPH)
Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)

48
Hemoglobin Hb

Hb is not an exact Four units of Hb

tetramer of Mb

3 major types of Hb
Hb A (Adult)
Hb F (Fetal)
Hb S (Sickle cell)

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❖ Each of these subunit polypeptides contains a heme
group—an iron atom at the center of a poryphyrin ring
—which reversibly binds a single O2 molecule in the
ferrous state (Fe2+).

❖ Whereas free heme binds O2 irreversibly and is

converted to the ferric state (Fe3+) in the process, Hb
can reversibly bind O2 because the valence state of
the iron atom is protected by encapsulating the heme
in the globin protein fold

❖ Each tetrameric (α2β2) Hb can therefore reversibly bind

four O2 molecules.

❖ Oxygenation changes the electronic state of the Fe 2+

heme iron, which is why the color of blood changes
from the dark, purplish hue characteristic of venous
50
blood to the brilliant scarlet of arterial blood.
❖ The organic component of the heme group—
the protoporphyrin—is made up of four pyrrole
rings (A, B, C & D) linked by methine bridges
to form a tetrapyrrole ring. Four methyl
groups, two vinyl groups, and two proprionate
side chains are attached.
❖ The iron atom at the center of the
protoporphyrin is bonded to the four pyrrole
atoms.
❖ Under normal conditions the iron is in the
ferrous (Fe2+) oxidation state. The iron atom
can form two additional bonds, one on each
side of the heme plane, called the fifth and
sixth coordination sites.
❖ The fifth coordination site is covalently bound
by the imidazole side chain of the globin chain
(the “proximal histidine,” α87 and β92).
❖ The sixth coordination site of the iron ion can
bind O2 or other gaseous ligands (CO, NO,
CN−, and H2S)
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▪ Role of distal
histidine: Makes O2
to bind in a bent
fashion and makes it
difficult for CO to bind
in a linear fashion.

▪ An isolated heme
binds CO 25000 times
as strongly as O2 in
solution. In the living
system binding affinity
for oxygen is reduced
considerably. For CO
to bind strongly, it has
Tense (T) state Relaxed (R) state
to bind linearly which
is made difficult by
distal histidine
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