Base Catalysed Racemization of Ethylenediamine-N,N,N′-triacetato-aqua-cobalt(III)

The kinetics of the base catalysed racemization of [Co(EN3A)H₂O]

1 Abbreviations: EN3A^3?=(^?OOCCH₂)₂N(CH₂)₂NHCH₂COO^?; ME3A^3?=(^?OOCCH₂)₂N(CH₂)₂ N(CH₃)CH₂COO^?; EDDA^2?=^?OOCCH₂NH(CH₂)₂NHCH₂COO^?; EDTA^4?=(^?OOCCH₂)₂N(CH₂)₂N(CH₂COO^?)₂;TNTA^4?=(^?OOCCH₂)₂N(CH₂)₃N(CH₃COO^?)₂; HETA^3?=(^?OOCCH₂)₂N(CH₂)₂N(CH₂COO^?)CH₂CH₂OH; en=H₂N(CH₂)₂NH₂; Meen=H₂N(CH₂)₂NHCH₃; sar^?=^?OOCCH₂NHCH₃.

were studied polarimetrically in aqueous buffer solution. The reaction rate is first order in OH^? and in complex, in weakly acidic medium. Activation parameters are ΔH≠=22 kcal · mol^?1, ΔS≠=26 cal · K^?1. The results are discussed in terms of an S_N1CB mechanism involving exchange of the ligand water molecule. The N-methylated analogue [Co(ME3A)H₂O] does not racemize in the pH-range investigated. Loss of optical activity occurs at a rate which is about 1,000 times slower than the racemization of [Co(EN3A)H₂O](60°) and coincides with the decomposition of the complex.