Question

What type of isomers are the following?

$\left[\right(CO{)}_{5}MnSCN\left]and\right[\left(CO{)}_{5}MnNCS\right]$

• A. Coordination
• B. Linkage
• C. Solvate
• D. Ionization

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Linkage

Linkage isomerism occurs with ambidentate ligands that are capable of coordinating in more than one way.
The best known cases involve the monodentate ligands: $SC{N}^{-}/NC{S}^{-}$ and $N{O}_2^{-}/ON{O}^{-}$. The only difference is what atoms the molecular ligands use to attach to the central ion. The ligand(s) must have more than one donor atom, but bind to ion in only one place.
These are $\left[\right(CO{)}_{5}MnSCN\left]and\right[\left(CO{)}_{5}MnNCS\right],$ linkage isomerism.