Stereoselectivity in reactions of metal complexes. VI. Kinetic study of the interconversion of cis-N and trans-N (S)-aspartato-N-acetato(amino-acidato)cobalt(III) complexes

The cis-N/trans-N interconversion of the title compound containing glycine and (R)- or (S)-leucine has been studied by polarimetric and spectrophotometric techniques. Equilibrium constants were determined on the basis of kinetic and thermodynamic data. It is shown that the chirality of the bidentate amino-acid has a pronounced influence on the cis-trans equilibrium of these systems. Possible mechanisms of the interconversion reaction are discussed.