In September 2002, a NATO-ASI was held in Cetraro (CS), Italy on the theme of "Metal-Ligand Interactions in Molecular-, Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-systems in Complex Environments". This event has followed the previous ones held in the same place in 1991, 1994 and 1998. In the present and the previous schools a broad interdisciplinary cross-section of experimental and theoretical researchers, interested in a better understanding of metal-ligand interactions from different viewpoints, was linked together to exchange experience, to review the state-of-the-art, to indicate new techniques and methods, to explore new fields and perspectives. Particular emphasis was given to the problems related with the crossing from molecular systems to nano-, macro-and micro-scale materials and to the effects of the environment on the properties of the molecular systems. The school was organized around lectures and special research seminares given by leading experts in the following fields: * metal clusters * inorganic complexes and materials * surface phenomena * adsorption and catalysis * organic and bio-inorganic systems * ab initio theory * density functional theory * classical and quantum dynamics This volume contains the formal lectures and selected contributed papers and describes the main aspects and problems tackled during the 12 days of the event.

Metal-Ligand Interactions - Structure and Reactivity emphasizes the experimental determination of structure and dynamics, supported by the theoretical and computational approaches needed to establish the concepts and guide the experiments. Leading experts present masterly surveys of: clusters, inorganic complexes, surfaces, catalysis, ab initio theory, density functional theory,semiempirical methods, and dynamics. Besides the presentations of the fields of study themselves, the papers also bring out those aspects that impinge on, or could benefit from, progress in other disciplines. Refined in the fire of an interactive and stimulating conference, the papers presented here represent the state of the art of current research.

The intricate interactions between transition metals and ligands are at the heart of a wide variety of chemical, physical and biological phenomena. Understanding these interactions provides a challenge of the first order, cutting across many fields of modern science and impinging on numerous areas of application. The fascinating behavior of these systems has attracted the attention of experimentalists and theorists alike. In this book are collected the main lectures of the NATO ASI on "Metal-Ligand Interactions in Chemistry, Physics and Biology" held in Cetraro, Italy, in September, 1998. This event followed two previous NATO ASI held also in Cetraro in 1991 and 1994 dedicated to "Metal- Ligand Interactions: from Atoms, to Clusters, to Surfaces" and to "Metal- Ligand Interactions: Structure and Reactivity," respectively. The increasing number of participants (115) and of requests to attend (more than 400) confirms the importance and timeliness of this sequence of ASI's as well as the high level of interest for the themes treated. The lectures were organized on the basis of the following topics: -clusters and surfaces -catalysis -inorganic complexes -bioinorganic systems -new experimental techniques -theoretical methodologies and were given by well known leading experts such as: Ivano Bertini, David A. Case, Bernard Coq, Gernot Frenking, Hans J. Freund, Francesc Illas, Jacek Lipkowski, Julius Jellinek, Nino Russo, Dennis R. Vll viii Salahub, Karlheinz Schwarz, Friedrich Siebert, Benoit Simard, Edward I. Solomon and Michael Zemer.

Metal-ligand interactions are currently being studied in different fields, from a variety of points of view, and recent progress has been substantial. Whole new classes of compounds and reactions have been found; an arsenal of physical methods has been developed; mechanistic detail can be ascertained to an increasingly minute degree; and the theory is being developed to handle systems of ever-growing complexity. As usual, such multidisciplinarity leads to great opportunities, coupled with great problems of communication between specialists. It is in its promotion of interactions across these fields that Metal-Ligand Interactions: From Atoms, to Clusters, to Surfaces makes its timely contribution: the tools, both theoretical and experimental, are highly developed, and fundamental questions remain unanswered. The most fundamental of these concerns the nature of the microscopic interactions between metal atoms (clusters, surfaces) and ligands (atoms, molecules, absorbates, reagents, products) and the changes in these interactions during physical and chemical transformation. In Metal-Ligand Interactions, leading experts discuss the following, vital aspects: ab initio theory, semi-empirical theory, density functional theory, complexes and clusters, surfaces, and catalysis.

During the last decade, interest in the chemistry of biological systems, as well as in molecular chemical engineering, has grown considerably. Many fields in modern chemistry are contributing to a better understanding of elementary mechanisms of various biological processes and this has resulted in the development of new classes of organic and organometallic compounds with specific and high biological activity. Such a multidisciplinary approach creates opportunities for an exchange of ideas and the need to create a common language. This volume contains a collection of papers, written by leading scientists which collectively provide a rich overview of current research activities relating to the chemistry of biological systems. These papers emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of this research. For researchers in academia and industry whose work involves the chemistry and properties of biomolecular systems.

Metal-Ligand Interactions - Structure and Reactivity emphasizes the experimental determination of structure and dynamics, supported by the theoretical and computational approaches needed to establish the concepts and guide the experiments. Leading experts present masterly surveys of: clusters, inorganic complexes, surfaces, catalysis, ab initio theory, density functional theory, semiempirical methods, and dynamics. Besides the presentations of the fields of study themselves, the papers also bring out those aspects that impinge on, or could benefit from, progress in other disciplines. Refined in the fire of an interactive and stimulating conference, the papers presented here represent the state of the art of current research.

The intricate interactions between transition metals and ligands are at the heart of a wide variety of chemical, physical and biological phenomena. Understanding these interactions provides a challenge of the first order, cutting across many fields of modern science and impinging on numerous areas of application. The fascinating behavior of these systems has attracted the attention of experimentalists and theorists alike. In this book are collected the main lectures of the NATO ASI on "Metal-Ligand Interactions in Chemistry, Physics and Biology" held in Cetraro, Italy, in September, 1998. This event followed two previous NATO ASI held also in Cetraro in 1991 and 1994 dedicated to "Metal- Ligand Interactions: from Atoms, to Clusters, to Surfaces" and to "Metal- Ligand Interactions: Structure and Reactivity," respectively. The increasing number of participants (115) and of requests to attend (more than 400) confirms the importance and timeliness of this sequence of ASI's as well as the high level of interest for the themes treated. The lectures were organized on the basis of the following topics: -clusters and surfaces -catalysis -inorganic complexes -bioinorganic systems -new experimental techniques -theoretical methodologies and were given by well known leading experts such as: Ivano Bertini, David A. Case, Bernard Coq, Gernot Frenking, Hans J. Freund, Francesc Illas, Jacek Lipkowski, Julius Jellinek, Nino Russo, Dennis R. Vll viii Salahub, Karlheinz Schwarz, Friedrich Siebert, Benoit Simard, Edward I. Solomon and Michael Zemer.

In September 2002, a NATO-ASI was held in Cetraro (CS), Italy on the theme of "Metal-Ligand Interactions in Molecular-, Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-systems in Complex Environments". This event has followed the previous ones held in the same place in 1991, 1994 and 1998. In the present and the previous schools a broad interdisciplinary cross-section of experimental and theoretical researchers, interested in a better understanding of metal-ligand interactions from different viewpoints, was linked together to exchange experience, to review the state-of-the-art, to indicate new techniques and methods, to explore new fields and perspectives. Particular emphasis was given to the problems related with the crossing from molecular systems to nano-, macro-and micro-scale materials and to the effects of the environment on the properties of the molecular systems. The school was organized around lectures and special research seminares given by leading experts in the following fields: * metal clusters * inorganic complexes and materials * surface phenomena * adsorption and catalysis * organic and bio-inorganic systems * ab initio theory * density functional theory * classical and quantum dynamics This volume contains the formal lectures and selected contributed papers and describes the main aspects and problems tackled during the 12 days of the event.