Talk:Trans effect

Inverse trans effect

This article neglects to mention the "inverse trans effect", or the phenomenon where the bonds with ligands trans to a trans-influencing ligand are shortened instead of lengthened, such as reported here. Shouldn't this be mentioned in §Structural trans effect?

UnbihexiumFan (talk | contribs) 03:43, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

To me, the inverse trans effect is a narrow concept, even that article states "it has had limited scope in an area with few unifying rules." The traditional trans effect guided extensive work especially on Pt(II), guiding the commercial synthesis of cisplatin. But despite my misgivings, maybe the inverse trans effect should be mentioned in this article. --Smokefoot (talk) 17:53, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

Then again, the article also talks about how the authors were able to extend the idea of the inverse trans effect to lower-valent compounds of f-block elements. This seems to fall into a problem where Wikipedia under-covers lanthanide and actinide compounds (see the existence of Transition metal chloride complex but not of articles about corresponding lanthanide or actinide compounds). This could also be in part due to the fact that lanthanide and actinide compounds are understudied in general.

Anyway, I digress. I still think that there should at least be a sentence on the inverse trans effect, even if it isn't as notable compared to the regular trans effect and cis/trans-platin. It is at least somewhat relevant to actinide chemistry, evidenced by the article I linked earlier and by .

UnbihexiumFan (talk | contribs) 18:03, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

Ln chem is just big aluminum to me (fightin' words to all f-element enthusiasts). More seriously, lanthanide chlorides could be beefed up, to include hydrates And then ether adducts. Such a contribution would be widely appreciated. Perhaps Lanthanide chloride complexes (some would say lanthanide chlorido complexes). Maybe there are not so many homoleptic chlorides. Probably more fluorides. So, the Ln theme is wide open. It might be a good time to step in before some hack butchers the topic.--Smokefoot (talk) 19:57, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

f element enthusiast here, I am shocked and appalled. How dare you disrespect some of the awesomest elements on the periodic table >:(

Speaking of lanthanide compounds, I feel like the WP:CHEMS importance ratings of a few lanthanide and actinide compounds like fluorides, chlorides, and oxides should be increased, especially since these compounds are often very important to the chemistries of their respective elements. I feel like this is not the proper place to be having this discussion and it should probably be moved somewhere but I'm not quite sure how to move a discussion.

UnbihexiumFan (talk | contribs) 21:08, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

Suggested projects:

• expand lanthanide chlorides to include hydrates and then etherates.
• repeat for other halides
• consider creating “Lanthanide complexes of ----" such as Cp*, silylamides, beta-diketonates.

In any case, good luck.

--Smokefoot (talk) 13:24, 25 May 2026 (UTC)