The stereochemistry of the dichlorocobalt(III) complexes with (2S,5S,9S)- and (2S,5R,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamines

Dichlorocobalt(III) complexes of (2S,5S,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamine (L₁) and (2S,5R,9S)-trimethyltriethylenetetraamine (L₂) have been prepared. Both L₁ and L₂ coordinate to the cobalt(III) ion to give three isomers: Λ-cis-α, Δ-cis-β, trans isomers for L₁ and Δ-cis-α, Δ-cis-β, trans isomers for L₂. Each of the trans-dichloro complexes of the two ligands have been isomerized stereospecifically to the cis-α-dichloro complex in methanol, and each of the cis-α-dichloro complexes stereospecifically to the trans-diaqua complex in water. Both the geometrical and optical inversions took place at the same time in the observed stereospecific isomerizations.