Inorganic Chemistry

1. Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms
   1. Mechanistic Pathways
      1. Associative Mechanisms
         1. Definition and characteristics
         2. Examples of associative pathways
         3. Factors influencing associative mechanisms
            1. Electron density and sterics
            2. Solvent effects
            3. Coordination number of the metal center
         4. Transition state structures
      2. Dissociative Mechanisms
         1. Definition and characteristics
         2. Examples of dissociative pathways
         3. Factors influencing dissociative mechanisms
            1. Nature of leaving groups
            2. Stability of intermediate complexes
         4. Transition state structures
      3. Interchange Mechanisms
         1. Definition and characterization as a hybrid of associative and dissociative
         2. Types (associative interchange vs. dissociative interchange)
         3. Examples and kinetic studies
   2. Substitution Reactions
      1. General concepts
         1. Definition and types of substitution reactions
         2. Role of coordination sphere change
         3. Thermodynamic vs. kinetic factors
      2. Kinetics of Substitution Reactions
         1. Rate laws and mechanisms
         2. Methods for studying reaction kinetics
         3. Importance of activation energy and enthalpy
      3. Ligand Exchange Reactions
         1. Water exchange rates in coordination compounds
         2. Influences on ligand exchange
            1. Electronic effects
            2. Steric effects
      4. Influence of Metal Center
         1. Effect of oxidation state on reactivity
         2. Influence of metal nature (hard vs. soft acids/bases)
   3. Electron Transfer
      1. Inner Sphere Electron Transfer
         1. Definition and procedure
         2. Role of bridging ligands
         3. Examples and applications
         4. Factors affecting rates
            1. Ligand bridging ability
            2. Nature of the metal centers involved
      2. Outer Sphere Electron Transfer
         1. Definition and characteristics
         2. Marcus Theory
            1. Concept and application
            2. Energy barriers and rearrangement energy
            3. Experimental validation of Marcus equation
         3. Examples of outer sphere mechanisms
         4. Influence of reaction medium
            1. Solvent effects
            2. Ionic strength
   4. Catalytic Mechanisms
      1. Homogeneous Catalysis
         1. Involvement of mononuclear and polynuclear complexes
         2. Pathways such as oxidative addition and reductive elimination
      2. Heterogeneous Catalysis
         1. Surface reactions and mechanisms
         2. Influence of surface structure and electronic properties on reactivity
   5. Reaction Intermediates and Transition States
      1. Identification of intermediates
         1. Use of spectroscopy and other detection methods
         2. Stabilization of reactive intermediates
      2. Transition state theory in inorganic reactions
         1. Energy profile of reactions
         2. Use in predicting reaction pathways and products