Base hydrolysis of (αβ S)-(o-methoxy benzoato) (tetraethylenepentamine) cobalt(III) ion: A comparative study of the role of ion pairs and micelles

The kinetics of base hydrolysis of (αβ S)-(o -methoxy benzoato) (tetraethylenepentamine)cobalt(III) obeyed the rate law: k_obs = k_OH[OH^?], in the range 0.05 ? [OH^?]_T, mol dm^?3 ? 1.0, I = 1.0 mol dm^?3, and 20.0–40.0°C. At 25°C, k_OH = 13.4 ± 0.4 dm³ mol^?1 s^?1, ΔH^≠ = 93 ± 2 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS^≠ = 90 ± 5 JK^?1 mol^?1. Several anions of varying charge and basicity, CH₃CO₂^?, SO₃^2?, SO₄^2?, CO₃^2?, C₂O₄^2?, CH₂(CO₂)₂^2?, PO₄^3?, and citrate^3? had no effect on the rate while phthalate^2?, NTA^3?, EDTA^4?, and DTPA^5? accelerated the process via formation of the reactive ion pairs. The anionic (SDS), cationic (CTAB), and neutral (Triton X-100) micelles, however, retarded the reaction, the effect being in the order SDS> CTAB > Triton X-100. The importance of electrostatic and hydrophobic effects of the micelles on the selective partitioning of the reactants between the micellar and bulk aqueous pseudo-phases which control the rate are discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.