Structurally Characterized Coinage‐Metal–Ethylene Complexes (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 4/2008)

the cover picture shows the formation of coinage metal (copper, silver, gold) complexes of ethylene supported by scorpionate ligands on an X-ray diffraction background (because the article focuses on the structurally characterized molecules). Thermally stable molecules containing bonds between coinage metal atoms and ethylene are still rare but have grown in number significantly over the last few years. Tris(pyrazolyl)borate (commonly known as scorpionate) ligands have played a major role in this chemistry. Indeed, they have served as the supporting ligands in the isolation of the first ethylene adduct of all three coinage metal ions. Most of the resulting complexes feature κ3-bonded scorpionate ligands, while a few others show rare κ2-coordination (as depicted here, a gold atom held by a scorpion with the scorpion's tail up). Details are presented in the Microreview by H. V. R. Dias and J. Wu on p. 509 ff. H. V. R. D. gratefully acknowledges the Robert A. Welch Foundation (grant Y-1289) for providing financial support for his research.