Equilibrium and kinetic studies on ligand substitution reactions of chloromethyl(aquo)cobaloxime with aromatic and aliphatic N-donor ligands

Equilibria and kinetics of the reactions of chloromethyl(aquo)cobaloxime with histamine, histidine, glycine and ethyl glycine ester were studied as a function of pH at 25°C, 10 M ionic strength (KCl) by spectrophotometric techniques. Comparison of equilibrium constants and rate constants tells that the order isK _Hisdn >K _Hiamn >K _Gly >K _EtGlyest. The rate of substitution of H₂O varies with the pKa of the incoming ligand and nucleophilic participation of the ligand in the transition state. The rate constants and equilibrium constants are correlated to the hardness and softness of the ligands and the Co(III) of cobaloxime.