Angular overlap interpretation of the magnetic properties of copper(II) dimers

A generalized angular overlap approach is suggested for the interpretation of the magnetic properties of transition metal dimers. The ferro- and anti-ferromagneticcoupling constants are related to the splitting of the ten d orbitals of the two metal centres. Sample calculations are performed, using model complexes where the two metals are bridged by two ligands in square planar, square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal coordinations. The use of the diagrams in the rationalization of the magnetic properties of copper(II) dimers is discussed.