[1] CT absorptions bands are intense and often lie in the ultraviolet or visible portion of the spectrum.
If the transfer occurs from the MO with ligand-like character to the metal-like one, the transition is called a ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT).
If the electronic charge shifts from the MO with metal-like character to the ligand-like one, the band is called a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT).
This coloration is assigned to LMCT, involving transfer of nonbonding electrons on the oxo ligands to empty d-levels on the metal.
Complexes of bipyridine, phenanthroline, and related unsaturated heterocycles often exhibit strong C-T bands.
[5][6] Intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) is a type of charge-transfer band that is associated with mixed-valence compounds.