Chirality
32.7 Chirality in inorganic chemistry.
Figure 97 [Ru(2,2’-bipyridine) 3 ]2+
Many coordination compounds are chiral; for example the well-known [Ru(2,2’-
bipyridine) 3 ]2+complex in which the three bipyridine ligands adopt a chiral propeller-like
arrangement [7]. In this case, the Ru atom may be regarded as a stereogenic centre, with
the complex having point chirality. The two enantiomers of complexes such as [Ru(2,2’-
bipyridine)3]2+ may be designated as Λ (left-handed twist of the propeller described by the
ligands) and Δ (right-handed twist). Hexol is a chiral cobalt compound.