Question

A complex of the type $$[\mathrm{M}(\mathrm{AA}){\phantom{A}}_2\mathrm{X}{\phantom{A}}_2]{\phantom{A}}^{n+}$$ is known to be optically active. What does this indicate about the structure of the complex? Give one example of such complex.

Answer 1

An optically active $$[\mathrm{M}(\mathrm{AA}){\phantom{A}}_2\mathrm{X}{\phantom{A}}_2]{\phantom{A}}^{n+}$$ indicates civ-octahedral structure e.g. $$\mathrm{cis}-[\mathrm{Pt}(\mathrm{en}){\phantom{A}}_2\mathrm{Cl}{\phantom{A}}_2]{\phantom{A}}^{2+}$$ or $$\mathrm{cis}-[\mathrm{Cr}(\mathrm{en}){\phantom{A}}_2\mathrm{Cl}{\phantom{A}}_2]{\phantom{A}}^{+}$$