Widening the Scope of Structural Correlations by Means of the van der Waals Crust Penetration Indices: The Dimerization of Groups 11 and 12 L–M–X Halo Complexes

We present in this
paper the application of the recently
proposed
interpenetration indices of the van der Waals crusts to the study
of incipient bonds between metal atoms of groups 11 or 12 with halide
atoms. To that end, we have carried out a structural database analysis
of three-coordinate complexes with a metal halide (M–X) bond
and of two-coordinate complexes with a secondary M···X
interaction, including the path of formation of LM(μ-X)2ML dimers. The structural data for 18 combinations of metal
and halide can be represented by a unique path that correlates the
L–M–X (or M···X) bond angle with the
M–X (or M···X) penetration index.