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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: khaleelc on January 03, 2013, 10:08:10 AM

Title: Quick question regarding ethene/py ligand
Post by: khaleelc on January 03, 2013, 10:08:10 AM
If you have Fe(CO)4(C2H4), the ethene ligand is equatorial
but in Fe(CO)4(py), the pyridine is in the axial position? Why is that? Is it something to do with backbonding from the metal d orbitals, with ethene being a pi donor/acceptor?

Thanks