What is the favored point group for six-coordinate complexes?

The favored point group for six-coordinate complexes is Oh, which corresponds to octahedral symmetry. This point group is characterized by having six equivalent coordination sites arranged in an octahedral geometry around a central atom. An example of such a complex is [Mg(H2O)6]2+ or transition metal complexes like [Fe(H2O)6]2+.

In an octahedral complex, there are various symmetry operations that can be applied, such as rotations, reflections, and inversions, corresponding to the symmetry elements in the Oh point group. These symmetry elements enable the determination of various properties of the complex, such as vibrational modes and electronic transitions.

Other point groups, such as Td (tetrahedral symmetry), C4v (which depicts a square pyramid coordination), or D4h (which represents square planar or distorted complexes), do not accurately describe the symmetry observed in six-coordinate complexes. Octahedral complexes, having a central metal ion surrounded by six ligands at the corners of an octahedron, offer the structural and electronic characteristics that are inherently tied to the Oh point group. This makes it the most relevant and accurate choice for describing six-coordinate complexes in coordination chemistry.