Compounds containing carbonyl

ligands only are known as homoleptic carbonyl. Such types of compounds are formed by most of the transition metals. These metal carbonyls always have simple, well-defined structures. In metal carbonyls the metal - carbonyl bond possess both s and p.character. M-C-bond is sigma bond. It is formed by the donation of lone pair of electrons of the carbonyl carbon into the vacant orbital of the metal. The M-C pi bond is formed by the donation of a pair of electron from a filled d orbital of a metal into the vacant antibonding π orbital of carbon monoxide. Such type of metal to ligand bonding creates a synergic effect which strengthens the bond between CO and metal.