Stereochemical nomenclature for octahedral coordination compounds containing polydentate ligands: a comprehensive proposal

Abstract

A universal nomenclature for the stereoisomers of octahedral coordination compounds containing polydentate ligands is hitherto lacking. A proposal for naming such compounds in a systematic and unequivocal way is described. Two skew chelate rings are selected following simple rules, and their helicity is assigned to the complex. Thence, a single descriptor is obtained and the exhaustive examination of all the possible pairs of lines is avoided. Another proposal, closer to the current notation, is reported and the advantages and disadvantages of both are discussed.