metalorganic

Metalorganic describes materials and chemistry involving metal centers coordinated to organic ligands, or structures in which metal and organic components are intimately integrated. The term is used broadly to cover coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and related assemblies. In coordination complexes, metal ions are bound to multidentate or monodentate organic ligands through covalent or coordinative bonds, giving discrete molecules or small clusters. Organometallic chemistry focuses on species that contain direct metal–carbon bonds, enabling reactivity that combines inorganic metal centers with organic groups.

A central theme of metalorganic research is the deliberate design of ligands to control geometry, oxidation state, reactivity, and stability. This includes homogeneous catalysts where ligands tune activity and selectivity in reactions such as cross-coupling and hydrogenation, as well as solid-state frameworks in which metal nodes connect with organic linkers to form porous networks.

Metal-organic frameworks and coordination polymers are prominent examples, offering high surface areas, tunable porosity, and potential for gas storage, separation, and catalysis. They are typically synthesized by self-assembly of metal ions or clusters with multidentate organic linkers under solvothermal or hydrothermal conditions. Other metalorganic materials include metallocenes and related organometallic complexes used in polymerization, sensing, and electronics.

Terminology varies by field, but metalorganic chemistry generally denotes the intersection of metal coordination chemistry with organic chemistry, yielding a broad array of compounds and materials with diverse applications in catalysis, materials science, and beyond.