The structure and reactivity of dioxygen complexes of the transition metals.

This article gives a review of complexes in which a dioxygen ligand is bonded to a transition metal. Three aspects of these complexes are discussed in detail: the structure, the electronic structure, and the reactivity. The structural section summarises the recent X-ray crystal structure determinations, and the structural data obtained by other methods. The electronic structure is first considered in qualitative terms which allow the rationalisation of the different structures observed, and this qualitative model is compared with the results of calculations and with spectroscopic data. The reactivity of the complexes is discussed separately for each structural class in terms of the electronic structure. An attempt is made to compare the results obtained in historically different areas of research. Our objective is to give a clear summary of current knowledge of these compounds for workers interested in their application to catalysis and in their rôle in biochemical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]