Synthetic and kinetic studies on copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(III) complexes of 1,4,7,10,13-pentaazacyclohexadecane ([16]aneN5)

Summary The pentadentate macrocycle 1,4,7,10,13-penta-azacyclo-hexadecane [16]aneN₅=(3)=L} has been prepared and a variety of copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(III) complexes of the ligand characterised. The copper complex [CuL](ClO₄)₂, on the basis of its d-d spectrum, appears to be square pyramidal, while [NiL(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ is octahedral. The copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes dissociate readily in acidic solution and these reactions have been studied kinetically. For the copper(II) complex, rate=k_H[complex][H⁺]² with k_H =4.8 dm⁶ mol^–2s^–1 at 25 °C and I=1.0 mol dm^–3 (NaClO₄) with H=43 kJ mol^–1 and S₂₉₈=–89 JK^–1 mol^–1. Dissociation rates of the copper(II) complexes increase with ring size in the order: [15]aneN₅ < [16]aneN₅ < [17]aneN₅. For the dissociation of the nickel(II) complex, rate=k_H[Complex][H⁺] with k_H=9.4×10^–3 dm³mol^–1 s^–1 at 25 °C and I =1.0 mol dm^–3 (NaClO₄) with H=71 kJ mol^–1 and S₂₉₈=–47 JK^–1mol^–1.The cobalt(III) complexes, [CoLCl](ClO₄)₂, [CoL(H₂O)]-(ClO₄)₃, [CoL(NO₂)](ClO₄)₂, [CoL(DMF)](ClO₄)₃ (DMF=dimethylformamide) and [CoL(O₂CH)](ClO₄)₂ have been characterised. The chloropentamine [CoCl([16]aneN₅)]²⁺ undergoes rapid base hydrolysis with k_OH=1.1× 10⁵dm³ mol^–1s^–1 at 25°C and I=0.1 mol dm^–3 (H=73 kJ mol^–1 and S₂₉₈=98 JK^–1 mol^–1). Rapid base hydrolysis of [CoL(NO₂)]²⁺ is also observed and the origins of these effects are considered in detail.