Trigonal prismatic molecular geometry

Trigonal prismatic molecular geometry
Examples	W(CH3)6
Steric number	6
Coordination number	6
Bond angle(s)	95°, 85°
μ (Polarity)	0

In chemistry, the trigonal prismatic molecular geometry describes the shape of compounds where six atoms, groups of atoms, or ligands are arranged around a central atom, defining the vertices of a triangular prism.

Examples

Hexamethyltungsten (W(CH₃)₆) was the first example of a molecular trigonal prismatic complex.^[1]

Some other transition metals have trigonal prismatic hexamethyl complexes, including both neutral molecules such as Mo(CH₃)₆ and Re(CH₃)₆ and ions such as Ta(CH
3)−
6 and Zr(CH
3)2−
6.^[2]

The complex Mo(S−CH=CH−S)₃ is also trigonal prismatic, with each S−CH=CH−S group acting as a bidentate ligand with two sulfur atoms binding the metal atom.^[2] Here the coordination geometry of the six sulfurs around the molybdenum is similar to that in the extended structure of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂).

References

1. Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G. (2004). Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 725. ISBN 978-0130399137.
2. Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G. (2004). Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0130399137.