Kinetics and mechanism of the complex formation between oxalatopentaamminecobalt(III) and aluminium(III) and gallium(III); a comparative study

Summary The reversible complex formation between oxalatopentaammine cobalt(III), aluminium(III) and gallium(III) was investigated by the stopped flow technique at 30 ± 0.1 °C and I = 1.0 mol dm^–3. The reactivity sequence: Ga^III > Al^III is observed, however, the major path for gallium(III) was (NH3)₅CoC₂O₄H²⁺ + GaOH²⁺ (NH₃)₅CoC₂O₄-Ga⁴⁺ + H₂O. The formation and dissociation rate constants of the binuclear species have been compared with the analogous data for iron(III) and nickel(II) reported earlier. The results reflect the fact that the half-bonded exalato moiety of (NH₃)₅CoC₂O_inf4^p+ acts as a chelating agent for the metal ions.Author to whom all correspondence should be directed.