In chemistry, the Chinese lantern structure is a coordination complex where two metal atoms are bridged by four bidentate ligands. This structure type is also known as a paddlewheel complex. Examples include chromium(II) acetate, molybdenum(II) acetate, and rhodium(II) acetate, copper(II) acetate dihydrate. The name is derived from the resemblance between the structure and a Chinese paper lantern. Often additional ligands are bound to the metal centers along the M---M vector. The degree of metal-metal bonding varies according to the d-electron configuration.
Complexes with Chinese lantern structure Copper benzoate Copper acetate Chromium(II) acetate Molybdenum(II) acetate Diruthenium tetraacetate chloride Rhodium acetate Potassium diplatinum(II) tetrakispyrophosphite
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