Introduction

Abstract

Abstract A summary of the basic principles and information content of the spectroscopic methods most often used to determine the electronic structure of transition metal complexes is presented. The methods covered are electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electronic absorption (associated with ligand-field and charge-transfer transitions), x-ray absorption, and photoelectron spectroscopies. The higher resolution information available through EPR (hyperfine coupling) and electronic absorption (vibronic coupling and bandshape analysis) spectroscopies is also considered. Attention throughout this Comment is focused on the relatively simple examples of the square planar and distorted tetrahedral CuCl4= complexes.