Abstract
The discovery of molecular hydrogen coordination to transition metals and its significance in terms of reactions of σ bonds at metal centers and catalysis is described. The fact that several complexes, known for many years, have only now been shown to contain H2 ligands after our finding, perhaps best reflects how surprising and well hidden this phenomenon has been. The existence of a tautomeric-like relationship between dihydrogen and dihydride ligands was equally unexpected. Diagnostics for, properties of. and induced cleavage of H2 ligands are given, along with a bonding model in harmony with these properties.

This publication has 78 references indexed in Scilit: