Jahn-Teller Distortions

The Jahn-Teller effect is a geometric distortion of a non-linear molecular system that reduces its symmetry and energy. This
distortion is typically observed among octahedral complexes where the two axial bonds can be shorter or longer than those of the
equatorial bonds. This effect can also be observed in tetrahedral compounds. This effect is dependent on the electronic state of the
system.

Introduction
In 1937, Hermann Jahn and Edward Teller postulated a theorem stating that "stability and degeneracy are not possible
simultaneously unless the molecule is a linear one," in regards to its electronic state.[1] This leads to a break in degeneracy which
stabilizes the molecule and by consequence, reduces its symmetry. Since 1937, the theorem has been revised which Housecroft and
Sharpe have eloquently phrased as "any non-linear molecular system in a degenerate electronic state will be unstable and will
undergo distortion to form a system of lower symmetry and lower energy, thereby removing the degeneracy."[2] This is most
commonly observed with transition metal octahedral complexes, however, it can be observed in tetrahedral compounds as well.
For a given octahedral complex, the five d atomic orbitals are split into two degenerate sets when constructing a molecular orbital
diagram. These are represented by the sets' symmetry labels: t (d , d , d ) and e (d and d
2g xz yz xy g z
2 ). When a molecule
2
x −y
2

possesses a degenerate electronic ground state, it will distort to remove the degeneracy and form a lower energy (and by
consequence, lower symmetry) system. The octahedral complex will either elongate or compress the z ligand bonds as shown in
Figure 1 below:

Figure 1: Jahn-Teller distortions for an octahedral complex.

When an octahedral complex exhibits elongation, the axial bonds are longer than the equatorial bonds. For a compression, it is the
reverse; the equatorial bonds are longer than the axial bonds. Elongation and compression effects are dictated by the amount of
overlap between the metal and ligand orbitals. Thus, this distortion varies greatly depending on the type of metal and ligands. In
general, the stronger the metal-ligand orbital interactions are, the greater the chance for a Jahn-Teller effect to be observed.

Elongation
Elongation Jahn-Teller distortions occur when the degeneracy is broken by the stabilization (lowering in energy) of the d orbitals
with a z component, while the orbitals without a z component are destabilized (higher in energy) as shown in Figure 2 below:

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 Figure 2: Illustration of tetragonal distortion (elongation) for an octahedral complex.
This is due to the d and d
xy 2orbitals having greater overlap with the ligand orbitals, resulting in the orbitals being higher in
x −y
2

energy. Since the d 2

x −y
orbital is antibonding, it is expected to increase in energy due to elongation. The d orbital is still
2
xy

nonbonding, but is destabilized due to the interactions. Jahn-Teller elongations are well-documented for copper(II) octahedral
compounds. A classic example is that of copper(II) fluoride as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Structure of octahedral copper(II) fluoride.[3]

Notice that the two axial bonds are both elongated and the four shorter equatorial bonds are the same length as each other.
According the theorem, the orbital degeneracy is eliminated by distortion, making the molecule more stable based on the model
presented in Figure 2.

Compression
Compression Jahn-Teller distortions occur when the degeneracy is broken by the stabilization (lowering in energy) of the d orbitals
without a z component, while the orbitals with a z component are destabilized (higher in energy) as shown in Figure 4 below:

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 Figure 4: Illustration of tetragonal distortion (compression) for an octahedral complex.
This is due to the z-component d orbitals having greater overlap with the ligand orbitals, resulting in the orbitals being higher in
energy. Since the dz2 orbital is antibonding, it is expected to increase in energy due to compression. The dxz and dyz orbitals are still
nonbonding, but are destabilized due to the interactions.

Electronic Configurations
For Jahn-Teller effects to occur in transition metals there must be degeneracy in either the t2g or eg orbitals. The electronic states of
octahedral complexes depend on the number of d-electrons and the splitting energy, Δ. When Δ is large and is greater than the
energy required to pair electrons, electrons pair in t2g before occupying eg. On the other hand, when Delta small and is less than
the pairing energy, electrons will occupy eg before pairing in t2g. The Δ of an octahedral complex is dictated by the chemical
environment (ligand identity), and the identity and charge of the metal ion. If there electron configurations for any d-electron count
is different depending on Δ, the configuration with more paired electrons is called low spin while the one with more unpaired
electrons is called high spin.
The electron configurations diagrams for d1 through d10 with large and small δ are illustrated in the figures below. Notice that the
electron configurations for d1, d2, d3, d8, d9, and d10 are the same no matter what the magnitude of Δ. Low spin and high spin
configurations exist only for the electron counts d4, d5, d6, and d7.

Large Δ
Figure 5 (below) shows the various electronic configurations for octahedral complexes with large Δ , including the low-spin
configurations of d4, d5, d6, and d7:

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 Figure 5: Electron configuration diagram of octahedral complexes (red indicates no degeneracies possible, thus no Jahn-Teller
effects).
The figure illustrates the electron configurations in the case of large Δ. The electron configurations highlighted in red (d3, low spin
d6, d8, and d10) do not exhibit Jahn-Teller distortions. On the other hand d1, d2, low spin d4, low spin d5, low spin d7, and d9, would
be expected to exhibit Jhan-Teller distortion. These electronic configurations correspond to a variety of transition metals. Some
common examples include Cr3+, Co3+, and Ni2+.

Small Δ
Figure 6 (below) shows the various electronic configurations for octahedral complexes with small Δ , including the high-spin
configurations of d4, d5, d6, and d7::

Figure 6: High spin octahedral coordination diagram (red indicates no degeneracies possible, thus no Jahn-Teller effects).

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The figure illustrates the electron configurations in the case of small Δ. The electron configurations highlighted in red (d3, high
spin d5, d8, and d10) do not exhibit Jahn-Teller distortions. In general, degenerate electronic states occupying the e orbital set tend
g

to show stronger Jahn-Teller effects. This is primarily caused by the occupation of these high energy orbitals. Since the system is
more stable with a lower energy configuration, the degeneracy of the eg set is broken, the symmetry is reduced, and occupations at
lower energy orbitals occur.

Spectroscopic Observation
Jahn-Teller distortions can be observed using a variety of spectroscopic techniques. In UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy, distortion
causes splitting of bands in the spectrum due to a reduction in symmetry (Oh to D4h). Consider a hypothetical molecule with
octahedral symmetry showing a single absorption band. If the molecule were to undergo Jahn-Teller distortion, the number of
bands would increase as shown in Figure 7 below:

Figure 7: Hypothetical absorption spectra of an octahedral molecule (left) and the same molecule with Jahn-Teller elongation
(right). The red arrows indicate electronic transitions.
A similar phenomenon can be seen with IR and Raman vibrational spectroscopy. The number of vibrational modes for a molecule
can be calculated using the 3n - 6 rule (or 3n - 5 for linear geometry) rule. If a molecule exhibits an Oh symmetry point group, it
will have fewer bands than that of a Jahn-Teller distorted molecule with D4h symmetry. Thus, one could observe Jahn-Teller effects
through either IR or Raman techniques. This effect can also be observed in EPR experiments as long as there is at least one
unpaired electron.
Table 1: Examples of Jahn-Teller distorted complexes
CuBr2 4 Br at 240 pm 2 Br at 318 pm

CuCl2 4 Cl at 230 pm 2 Cl at 295 pm

CuCl 2.2H 2O 2 O at 193 pm 2 Cl at 228 pm 2 Cl at 295 pm

CsCuCl3 4 Cl at 230 pm 2 Cl at 265 pm

CuF2 4 F at 193 pm 2 F at 227 pm

CuSO4.4NH3.H2O 4 N at 205 pm 1 O at 259 pm 1 O at 337 pm

K2CuF4 4 F at 191 pm 2 F at 237 pm

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 KCuAlF6 2 F at 188 pm 4 F at 220 pm

CrF2 4 F at 200 pm 2 F at 243 pm

KCrF3 4 F at 214 pm 2 F at 200 pm

MnF3 2 F at 209 pm 2 F at 191 pm 2 F at 179 pm

The Jahn-Teller Theorem predicts that distortions should occur for any degenerate state, including degeneracy of the t2g level,
however distortions in bond lengths are much more distinctive when the degenerate electrons are in the eg level.

References
1. Jahn, H. A.; Teller, E. Proc. R. Soc. London A, 1937, 161, 220-235. DOI: 10.1098/rspa.1937.0142
2. Housecroft, C.; Sharpe, A. G. Inorganic Chemistry. Prentice Hall, 3rd Ed., 2008, p. 644. ISBN: 978-0-13-175553-6
3. Billy, C.; Haendler, H. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1957, 79, 1049–1051. DOI: 10.1021/ja01562a011

References
Janes, R.; Moore, E. A. Metal-ligand bonding. The Open University, 2004, p. 23. ISBN 0-85404-979-7
P.T.Miller, P.G.Lenhert and M.D.Joesten, Inorg. Chem., 11, 2221, 1972.
J.S.Wood, C.P.Keijzers and R.O.Day, Acta Crystallogr., Sect.C (Cr. Str. Comm.), 40, 404, 1984.
M.D.Joesten, M.S.Hussain and P.G.Lenhert, Inorg. Chem., 9, 151, 1970.

Practice Questions
1. Why do d3 complexes not show Jahn-Teller distortions?
2. Does the spin system (high spin v. low spin) of a molecule play a role in Jahn-Teller effects?
3. What spectroscopic method would one utilize in order to observe Jahn-Teller distortions in a diamagnetic molecule?
4. What spectroscopic method(s) would one utilize in order to observe Jahn-Teller distortions in a paramagnetic molecule?
5. Why are Jahn-Teller effects most prevalent in inorganic (transition metal) compounds?

Answers
1. Complexes with d3 electron configurations do not show Jahn-Teller distortions because there is no ground state degeneracy.
2. Yes. Examining the d5 electron configuration, one finds that the high spin scenario contains all singly occupied d orbitals (no
degeneracy). However, the low spin d5 electron configuration shows degeneracy, which then leads to possible Jahn-Teller
effects.
3. UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy is one of the most common techniques for observing these effects. In general, it is independent
of magnetism (diamagnetic v. paramagnetic). Thus, one would see the effect in the spectrum of UV-VIS absorption analysis.
Note that EPR requires at least one unpaired electron, and therefore not EPR active.
4. Inorganic, specifically transition metal, complexes are most prevalent in showing Jahn-Teller distortions due to the availability
of d orbitals. The most common geometry that the Jahn-Teller effect is observed is in octahedral complexes (see Figures 2, 4, 5
and 6 above) due to the splitting of d orbitals into two degenerate sets. Due to stabilization, the degeneracies are removed,
making a lower symmetry and lower energy molecule.
5. In addition to UV-VIS absorption, one can also employ EPR spectroscopy if a molecule possesses and unpaired electron.

Contributors and Attributions

Kamran Ghiassi (UC Davis)
Prof. Robert J. Lancashire (The Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies)

Jahn-Teller Distortions is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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