What Role Do Ligands Play in Catalysis According to CFT?
Ligands influence the electronic environment of the metal ion by altering the crystal field splitting. Strong field ligands (e.g., CO, CN-) create a larger splitting energy, while weak field ligands (e.g., H2O, Cl-) result in a smaller Δ. By choosing appropriate ligands, chemists can tune the electronic structure and reactivity of the metal center, thereby optimizing the catalytic efficiency and selectivity.
