Linkage Isomerism
Isomerism arising when an ambidentate ligand bonds to the metal through different donor atoms.
Unit
Dimensionless
In depth
The connectivity within the ligand is unchanged, but which of its atoms carries the coordinate bond differs. The two isomers usually differ in colour and often in stability, with one converting slowly into the other on standing or heating.
Examples in the real world
The red nitrito [Co(NH₃)₅(ONO)]²⁺ isomerising to the yellow nitro [Co(NH₃)₅(NO₂)]²⁺.