Octahedral cobalt(III) complexes of the chloropenta-ammine type. Part XV. The mercury(II)-catalysed aquation of some cis-chloro(amine)-bis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) cations in aqueous solution
Abstract
The second-order rate constants for the mercury(II)-catalysed aquation of cis-[Co en2(RNH2)Cl]2+ cations, where R is H, Me, Et, Prn, and Pri, have been measured in aqueous solution over a range of temperatures. The results are discussed in terms of the formation of an activated complex Co–Cl–Hg, which yields the aquo-product by a unimolecular aquation. In the case of R = H, the investigations have been extended to the corresponding bromocation, which reacts some 500 times faster than its chloro-analogue.