| Abstract: | Salts of one isomeric form of the chloro-n-butylamine-, chloro-iso-butyl-amine- and chloro-sec-butylamine-bis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) cations have been prepared and characterised to have a cis-configuration (IR and VIS spectroscopy). Rate constants for their spontaneous aquation, mercury(II)-induced aquation and base hydrolysis have been determined and the activation parameters calculated. The results are compared with data obtained for the n-propylamine complex with a view to investigate the effects of methyl (α, β, γ) substituents on reactivities. The rate-determining dissociation of the outgoing group (Cl? or HgCl+) takes place via either a square-pyramidal or a trigonal-bipyramidal intermediate, depending on whether the activation entropy is negative or positive. |
