Macrocyclic Polyethers as Enolate Activators in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Systems

Abstract

The ability of macrocyclic polyethers to activate enolates has been studied in the alkylation of deoxybenzoin (1) with butyl derivatives nBuY (Y = Br, I, OMes) catalyzed by crown ether PHDB18C6 (7) or cryptand [2.2.2, C₁₀] (8) under phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) and homogeneous (chlorobenzene) conditions. The enolate reactivity is mainly determined by the ligand (cryptand>crown ether) and solvent (increasing with the polarity, in the order: toluene<chloroben-zene<1,2dichlorobenzene). Regioselectivity of the reaction is also remarkably affected by ligand and alkylating agent.     

Preparation and Application of Cholesteryl‐Macrocyclic Polyether Liquid Crystals and Surfactants

Macrocyclic polyethers containing a cholesteryl moiety, e.g., cholesteryl benzo‐15‐crown‐5 (C₂₇H₄₅OOC‐B15C5) and cholesteryl cryptand22 (C₂₇H₄₅OOC‐Cryptand22), were synthesized. The cholesteryl crown ether C₂₇H₄₅OOC‐B15C5 showed liquid crystal characteristics which were observed by polarizing microscopy. In contrast, the cholesteryl cryptand C₂₇H₄₅OOC‐Cryptand22 showed no liquid crystal characteristics. The doping effect of inorganic salts on the liquid crystal formation of cholesteryl benzo‐15‐crown‐5 was also investigated, revealing that the addition of salts resulted in narrower liquid crystal temperature ranges. Both cholesteryl cryptand C₂₇H₄₅OOC‐Cryptand22 and cholesteryl crown ether C₂₇H₄₅OOC‐B15C5 also exhibited the distinctive characteristics of surfactants in solutions. Fluorescence probe of pyrene and surface tension measurement were applied as sensitive tools to study the formation of the micelles and determine the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the cholesteryl cryptand and crown ether surfactants. The salt effect on the CMC of the cholesteryl cryptand surfactant was also investigated and is discussed. Furthermore, the cholesteryl benzo‐15‐crown‐5 was successfully employed as a quite good phase transfer catalyst for the oxidation of alcohols, e.g., benzhydrol, with NaMnO₄ as an oxidant. Effects of temperature, solvent and concentration of the crown ether catalyst on the oxidation of benzhydrol were also investigated.     

Influence of quaternary onium salts,crown ethers and cryptands on olefin epoxidations promoted by HOCl/ClO− in the Presence of Mn(III)-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin chloride

Reaction rates of alkene epoxidations, promoted by aqueous NaOCl and catalyzed by Mn(III)-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin chloride1 (P) in the presence of a lipophilic axial ligand (L) (e.g.N-hexylimidazole) and carried out under H₂O/CH₂Cl₂ two phase conditions at 0°C, are strongly enhanced by lowering the pH of the aqueous phase from 12.7 to 9.5. Under these conditions, a further relevant increase in the reaction rates can be achieved by adding phase-transfer catalysts (PT), e.g. quaternary ammonium salt 3, lipophilic crown ether4 or cryptand5, provided that the amount of L is very small (L/P=1 for very reactive alkenes, e.g. cyclooctene, and 10 for poorly reactive ones, e.g. 1-dodecene). In the case of cyclooctene epoxidation, the use of 0.006–0.03 mol. equiv. of PT completes the reaction in 1–10 min., the initial rates being up to 600 turnovers/min. with (2.2.2,C₁₀) cryptand. In the absence of the axial ligand, the quaternary ammonium salt3 and cryptand5 show an inhibitory effect. Such an effect is due to the formation of the poorly reactive Mn(P)CI species, by Cl– extraction to the organic phase. However, dibenzo crown ether 4 does not show this effect. In the presence of 4, and with L/P =1, the 1-dodecene epoxidation reaches 94% in 1 min. The unique behavior of crown ethers can be explained by their ineffectiveness in extracting alkali chlorides, providing a very low concentration of Cl– in the organic phase and thus avoiding the Mn(III)-porphyrin deactivation.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr C. J. Pedersen.     

Synthesis of a New pH-Dependent Ligand: Conformational and Complexation Studies

A new macrocyclic ligand, 3, which exhibits pH-induced conformational changes, has been prepared. This ligand consists of a crown ether derived from a trans-anti-trans 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted cyclohexane. Due to the stereochemistry of the substituents on the carbocyclic ring, two different low-energy conformations of the crown ether are possible. Ligand 3 has been studied in solution by ¹H NMR spectroscopy at different values of pH and temperature, showing that the conformation of the crown ether, and thus its complexing ability, is strongly pH-dependent. The solid-state structure of the ligand has been determined by X-ray diffraction.     

1,2-Bis[N-(N′-alkylimidazolium)]ethane salts as new guests for crown ethers and cryptands

1,2-Bis[N-(N′-alkylimidazolium)ethane salts form complexes presumed to be pseudorotaxanes with crown ether and cryptand hosts. The association constants of 1,2-bis[N-(N′-butylimidazolium)]ethane bis(hexafluorophosphate) with dibenzo-24-crown-8 and a dibenzo-24-crown-8-based pyridyl cryptand were estimated as 24 (±1) and 348 (±30) M⁻¹, respectively, in acetonitrile at 25 °C. The pseudorotaxane-like structure of the 1:2 complex of the N′-methyl analog with the cryptand was observed by X-ray crystallography. Replacement of the ethylene spacer with propylene and butylene spacers resulted in K_a values an order of magnitude smaller.     

Piezoelectric Crystal Membrane Chemical Sensors Based on Fullerene and Macrocyclic Polyethers

Various reusable and sensitive piezoelectric (PZ) quartz crystal membrane sensors with home‐made computer interfaces for signal acquisition and data processing were developed to detect organic/inorganic vapors and organic/inorganic/biologic species in solutions, respectively. Fullerene(C60), fullerene derivatives and artificial macrocyclic polyethers, e.g., crown ethers and cryptands, were synthesized and applied as coating materials on quartz crystals of the PZ crystal sensors. The oscillating frequency of the quartz crystal decreased due to the adsorption of organic or inorganic species onto coating material molecules on the crystal surface. The crown ether‐coated PZ crystal gas detector exhibited high sensitivity with a frequency shift range of 10–340 Hz/(mg/L) for polar organic gases, a short response time (< 2.0 min.), good selectivity, and good reproducibility. The Ag(I)/crptand22 and Ru(III) / crptand22 coated PZ gas detectors were also prepared for nonpolar organic vapors, e.g., alkynes and alkenes. The frequency shifts of the nonpolar PZ sensors were in the order: alkynes > alkenes > alkanes. A Ti(IV)/Cryptand22‐coated PZ crystal sensor was also developed to detect the inorganic air pollutants, e.g., CO and NO₂. A piezoelectric gas sensor for both polar/nonpolar organic vapors based on C60‐cryptand22 was also prepared. The cryptand22‐coated PZ gas sensor was also employed as a GC detector for organic molecules. The cryptand22‐coated piezoelectric GC detectors compared well with the commercial thermal conductivity detector (TCD). The interaction between fullerene C60 and organic molecules was studied with a fullerene coated PZ gas detector. A multi‐channel PZ organic gas detector with PCA(Principal Component Analysis) and BPN (Back Propagation Neural) analysis methods was developed. Various liquid piezoelectric crystal sensors based on long‐chain macrocyclic polyethers, e.g., C₁₀H₂₁‐dibenzo‐16‐crown‐5, C₁₈H₃₇‐benzo‐15‐crown‐5, (C₁₇CO)₂‐cyptand22 and fullerene derivatives, e.g., C60‐NH‐cryptand22 and dibenzo‐16‐crown‐5‐C60, were also developed as HPLC detectors for metal ions, anions, and various organic compounds in solutions. The sensitive and highly selective PZ bio‐sensors based on enzymes, polyvinylaldehyde, polycinnaldehyde‐C60 and C60‐cryptand22 were developed to detect various biologic species, e.g., proteins, glucose, and urea. A quite sensitive EQCM (Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Micro‐balance) detection system was also developed for detection of trace heavy metal ions.     

A novel polyaddition of bis(epoxide)s with triazine diaryl ether for the synthesis of poly(ether)s containing triazine group in the main chain

Poly(ether)s (P‐1–P‐4) containing triazine groups in the main chain and pendant phenoxy groups in the side chain were synthesized by the polyaddition of bis(epoxide)s with 2,4‐di‐(p‐chlorophenoxy)‐6‐(diphenylamino)‐s‐triazine (DCTA) with quaternary onium salts or crown ether complexes as catalysts. The polyaddition of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A with DCTA proceeded smoothly in chlorobenzene at 120 °C for 24 h to give P‐1 with a number‐average molecular weight of 24,800 in a 95% yield when tetraphenylphosphonium chloride (TPPC) was used as a catalyst; however, no reaction occurred without a catalyst under the same reaction conditions. Polyadditions of other bis(epoxide)s with DCTA also proceeded smoothly with 5 mol % TPPC as a catalyst in chlorobenzene to produce the corresponding polymers (P‐2–P‐4) in high yields under similar reaction conditions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3604–3611, 2000     

Properties and Applications of Cryptand‐22 Surfactant for Ion Transport and Ion Extraction

A non‐ionic cryptand‐22 surfactant consisting of a macrocyclic cryptand‐22 polar head and a long paraffinic chain (C₁₀H₂₁‐Cryptand‐22) was synthesized and characterized. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the cryptand surfactant in ROH/H₂O mixed solvent was determined by the pyrene fluorescence probe method. In general, the cmc of the cryptand surfactant increased upon decreasing the polarity of the surfactant solution. The cryptand surfactant also can behave as a pseudo cationic surfactant by protonation of cryptand‐22 or complexation with metal ions. Effects of protonation and metal ions on the cmc of the cryptand surfactant were investigated. A preliminary application of the cryptand surfactant as an ion‐transport carrier for metal ions, e.g., Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Sr²⁺, through an organic liquid‐membrane was studied. The transport ability of the cryptand surfactant for these metal ions was in the order: K⁺ ≥ Na⁺ < Li⁺ < Sr²⁺. A comparison of the ion‐transport ability of the cryptand surfactant with other macrocyclic polyethers, e.g., dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6, 18‐crown‐6 and benzo‐15‐crown‐5, was studied and discussed. Among these macrocyclic polyethers, the cryptand surfactant was the best ion‐transport carrier for Na⁺, Li⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions. Furthermore, a foam extraction system using the cryptand surfactant to extract the cupric ion was also investigated.     

Reaction of early transition metal complexes with macrocycles. II. Synthesis and structure of TiCl3(H2O) · 18-crown-6, a compound with a unique bidentate bonding mode for the 18-crown-6 molecule

18-crown-6 reacts with TiCl₃ in CH₂Cl₂ to form a complex in which the crown ether functions as a tridentate ligand. Addition of moist hexane affords a molecular complex in which the crown ether functions as a bidentate ligand. A water molecule is bonded directly to the titanium atom and is further hydrogen bonded to three of the oxygen atoms of the crown. The deep blue crystals of the CH₂Cl₂ adduct belong to the monoclinic space groupP2₁/n witha=13.481(8),b=8.021(5),c=21.425(9) Å, =97.32(5)°, and _calc = 1.51 g cm^–3 forZ=4. Refinement led to a conventionalR value of 0.040 based on 873 observed reflections. The Ti–O bond distances for the crown oxygen atoms are 2.123(8) and 2.154(9) Å, while the oxygen atom of the water molecule is bonded at 2.072(8) Å. The octahedral coordination sphere of the titanium atom is completed by the three chlorine atoms at distances of 2.340(5), 2.352(4), and 2.373(4) Å. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82034 (10 pages).     

Synthesis of Some Selenacrown Ethers and the Thermodynamic Origin of Their Complexation with C60

Two new selenacrown ethers, i.e., N,N′-dimethyl-1,11-diaza-4,8,14,18,-tetraselenacycloicosane (1) and 7,11-diseleno-2,3,15,16,-dibenzo-1,4,14,17,20,23-hexaoxacyclopentacosane (2), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and UV, and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. An X-ray crystallographic structure was obtained for 1. UV-spectrophotometric titrations have been performed in CCl₄ solution at 25–50 °C to obtain the complex stability constants (K_s) and the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH⁰ and TΔS⁰) for the stoichiometric 1:1 complexation of [60]-fullerene (C60) with the crown ethers 1–4. The obtained K_s values together with that reported for dicyclohexano-24-crown-8 (5) reveal that, the more the heteroatom numbers in crown ether ring are, and the larger the cavity sizes of crown ethers are, the higher theK_svalues for complexation with C60 are. Thermodynamically, the complexation of C60 with 1–5 is absolutely enthalpy-driven in CCl₄, while the complex stability is governed by the entropy term.     

碱金属碘化物与冠醚或穴醚的配合物中I3-和I-的氧化还原行为及其在染料敏化纳米薄膜太阳电池中的应用研究

本文利用超微铂电极和循环伏安法研究了在碱金属碘化物与冠醚或穴醚配合物的3-甲氧基丙腈(MePN)溶液中I₃^-和I^-的氧化还原行为。发现I₃^-和I^-在其中的表观扩散系数与阳离子有关，且I₃^-的表观扩散系数符合以下规律：1,2-二甲基-3-丙基咪唑阳离子(DMPI⁺)> [Na(¯¯15-C-5]⁺ > [K(¯¯18-C-6]⁺ > [Na(¯¯2.2.1-cryptand]⁺，I^-的表观扩散系数则为：[Na(¯¯2.2.1-cryptand]⁺> [Na(¯¯15-C-5]⁺ ≈[K(¯¯18-C-6]⁺> DMPI⁺。比较了由上述配合物和1,2-二甲基-3-丙基咪唑碘(DMPII)组成的染料敏化纳米薄膜太阳电池(DSC)的光伏性能，结果表明由上述配合物组成的DSC，其短路电流略高于DMPII，填充因子略低于DMPII，这与I^-和I₃^-在其中的表观扩散系数的大小是相一致的。此外，电解质溶液中的溶剂对DSC的光电转换效率也有较大影响，以MePN为溶剂，含DMPII的DSC的光电转换效率要高于[K(¯¯18-C-6]I，而以乙腈为溶剂，两者的光电转换效率并没有明显的差别。     

Effect of structural variations of dibenzocrown ether resins and their acyclic analogues upon ion-pair sorption of alkali metal salts from aqueous and aqueous methanol solutions

Abstract

Ion-pair sorption of alkali metal salts from aqueous and aqueous methanol solutions by acyclic and cyclic dibenzopolyether resins possessing different side arm groups such as hydroxy, methoxy and carboxy has been investigated. The results reveal that both sorption selectivity and efficiency are influenced by: (1) the methanol content of the aqueous sample solution; (2) the acyclic or cyclic nature of the polyether unit; (3) the conformational positioning of the side arm group with respect to the crown ether cavity; and (4) the identity of the counteranion species of the alkali metal salt. For sym-(C₃H₇)(R′)dibenzo-16-crown-5 resins, the sorption selectivity and efficiency increased as the R′ group was varied: -OCH₃ < -OH < -OCH₂CO₂H. The highest sorption efficiency and Na⁺ selectivity was obtained for sym-(propyl)dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetic acid resin (7) in which the pendent carboxylic acid group is oriented over the crown ether cavity. The use of a less hydrated anion in the alkali metal salt species enhances the ion-pair efficiency: SO₄ ^2- < NO₃ ^?, Cl^?, Br^? < I^? < SCN^?. Monovalent metal selective sorption was noted for competitive ion-pair sorption of NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂ by resin 7.     

Synthesis of Double-Armed Benzo-15-crown-5 and Their Complexation Thermodynamics with Alkali Cations

A series of double-armed benzo-15-crown-5 lariats (3–8) have been synthesized by the reaction of 4′, 5′-bis(bromomethyl)-benzo-15-crown-5 (2) with 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, 4-methoxyphenol, 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-acetamidophenol in 43 ~ 82% yields, respectively. The complex stability constants (K _S) and thermodynamic parameters for the stoichiometric 1:1 and/or 1:2 complexes of benzo-15-crown-5 1 and double-armed crown ethers 3–8 with alkali cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺) have been determined in methanol–water (V/V=8:2) at 25 °C by means of microcalorimetric titrations. As compared with the parent benzo-15-crown-5 1, double-armed crown ethers 3–8 show unremarkable changes in the complex stability constants upon complexation with Na⁺, but present significantly enhanced binding ability toward cations larger than the crown cavity by the secondly sandwich complexation. Thermodynamically, the sandwich complexations of crown ethers 3-8 with cations are mostly enthalpy-driven processes accompanied with a moderate entropy loss. The binding ability and selectivity of cations by the double-armed crown ethers are discussed from the viewpoints of the electron density, additional binding site, softness, spatial arrangement, and especially the cooperative binding of two crown ether molecules toward one metal ion.     

Thermodynamic Data for the Formation of 1:1 and 2:1 Complexes of α,ω-Diamino Dihydrochlorides with 18-Crown-6 in Aqueous Solution

Calorimetric titrations are used to study the interactions between the crown ether 18-crown-6 and several α,ω-diamino dihydrochlorides in aqueous solution. These complexes are formed by ion-dipole interactions between the positively charged nitrogen atoms and the oxygen donor atoms of the crown ether. Depending on the experimental conditions, the formation of 1:1 or 2:1 complexes (ligand:diamines) can be studied. The solvation of the ligand and the amines are responsible for the observed thermodynamic values. The number of water molecules released during the reaction were calculated from the determined reaction entropies. Formation of 1:1 complexes distorts the solvation shell around the molecules. As a result, the number of solvent molecules released during the formation of the 2:1 complexes is slightly smaller than the number released from formation of the 1:1 complex. No experimental evidence is observed for the formation of complexes between one crown ether and two protonated amino groups.     

Preparation and evaluation of novel chiral stationary phases based on quinine derivatives comprising crown ether moieties

The C9‐position of quinine was modified by meta‐ or para‐substituted benzo‐18‐crown‐6, and immobilized on 3‐mercaptopropyl‐modified silica gel through the radical thiol‐ene addition reaction. These two chiral stationary phases were evaluated by chiral acids, amino acids, and chiral primary amines. The crown ether moiety on the quinine anion exchanger provided a ligand‐exchange site for primary amino groups, which played an important role in the retention and enantioselectivity for chiral compounds containing primary amine groups. These two stationary phases showed good selectivity for some amino acids. The complex interaction between crown ether and protonated primary amino group was investigated by the addition of inorganic salts such as LiCl, NH₄Cl, NaCl, and KCl to the mobile phase. The resolution results showed that the simultaneous interactions between two function moieties (quinine and crown ether) and amino acids were important for the chiral separation.     

Natural Abundance 17O-NMR. Study of Some Macrocyclic Complexes with Alkali Metal Cations

Complexation between crown ethers 12C4, 15C5, 18C6 and cryptand 222, and alkali cations Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ in various solvents were studied by ¹⁷O-NMR. spectroscopy. Small diamagnetic shifts arising from the cation electric field are observed. They increase according to the sequence K⁺ < Na⁺ < Li⁺. ¹⁷O-linewidth are discussed and compared to the ¹³C relaxation times. Linewidth modification results mainly from modifications of the effective correlation time. In general, for crown ethers, considerable line broadening occurs when the cation fits well into the cavity but line narrowing occurs when the cation is much smaller than the cavity.     

Bis(crown-6)calix[4]arene/Cs+ Coordination Chemistry in NPME Solution

NMR spectroscopy was used to show that the symmetry of the crown ether bis(C6) is increased by an increase of the alkali metal cation radius. The EXAFS spectrum demonstrates that a seven oxygen atom coordinated configuration is present in the bis(C6)/Cs⁺/NPME system, where NPME denotes o-nitrophenylmethyl ether. The seventh oxygen in this complex, besides the six crown ether oxygens of bis(C6), may come either from a H₂O molecule or an NO₃⁻ ion.     

Synthesis of Double-Armed Benzo-15-crown-5 and Their Complexation Thermodynamics with Alkali Cations

A series of double-armed benzo-15-crown-5 lariats (3–8) have been synthesized by the reaction of 4′, 5′-bis(bromomethyl)-benzo-15-crown-5 (2) with 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, 4-methoxyphenol, 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-acetamidophenol in 43 ~ 82% yields, respectively. The complex stability constants (K _S) and thermodynamic parameters for the stoichiometric 1:1 and/or 1:2 complexes of benzo-15-crown-5 1 and double-armed crown ethers 3–8 with alkali cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺) have been determined in methanol–water (V/V=8:2) at 25 °C by means of microcalorimetric titrations. As compared with the parent benzo-15-crown-5 1, double-armed crown ethers 3–8 show unremarkable changes in the complex stability constants upon complexation with Na⁺, but present significantly enhanced binding ability toward cations larger than the crown cavity by the secondly sandwich complexation. Thermodynamically, the sandwich complexations of crown ethers 3-8 with cations are mostly enthalpy-driven processes accompanied with a moderate entropy loss. The binding ability and selectivity of cations by the double-armed crown ethers are discussed from the viewpoints of the electron density, additional binding site, softness, spatial arrangement, and especially the cooperative binding of two crown ether molecules toward one metal ion.Graphical Abstract Synthesis of Double-Armed Benzo-15-crown-5 and Their Complexation Thermodynamics with Alkali CationsYU LIU*, JIAN-RONG HAN, ZHONG-YU DUAN and HENG-YI ZHANG This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.     

18-crown-6 ether complexes with aralkylammonium perchlorates

Thermochemical properties of crown ether complexes have been studied by simultaneous TG-DTA (thermogravimetric analysis-differential thermal analysis) coupled with a mass spectrometer, DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and hot stage microscopy (HSM). The examined complexes contain benzylammonium- [BA], (R)-(+)-a-phenylethylammonium- [(R)-PEA], (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-a-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate [(R)-NEA and (S)-NEA] salts as guests. In the cases of BA and (R)-PEA an achiral pyridono-18-crown-6 ligand [P18C6], and in the case of (R)-NEA and (S)-NEA a chiral (R,R)-dimethylphenazino-18-crown-6 ligand [(R,R)-DMPh18C6] was used as host molecule to obtain four different crown ether complexes. In all cases, the melting points of the complexes were higher than those of both the host and the guest compounds. The decomposition of the complexes begins immediately after their melting is completed, while the BA and (R)-PEA salts and the crown ether ligands are thermally stable by 50 to 100 K above their melting points. During the decomposition of the salts and the four complexes strongly exothermic processes can be observed which are due to oxidative reactions of the perchlorate anion. Ammonium perchlorate crystals were identified among the decomposition residues of the salts. P18C6 was observed to crystallize with two molecules of water. The studied complexes of P18C6 did not contain any solvate. BA was observed to exhibit a reversible solid-solid phase transition upon heating. The heterochiral complex consisting of (S)-NEA and (R,R)-DMPh18C6 shows a solid-solid phase transition followed by two melting points. HSM observations identified three crystal modifications, two of them simultaneously co-existing. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.