Solvation of transition metal complexes: thermochemical approaches

Conclusion and extensions We hope that this Review has made readers more aware of solvation of inorganic complexes, and of the importance of such knowledge in understanding their chemistryperhaps particularly their reactivity. The approach just set out for inorganic complexes should be of considerable value in the field or organometallic chemistry. In particular, informed use of solvation characteristics should help in optimising conditions for organometallic reactions and in homogeneous catalysis. Unfortunately, solvation data on reactants are too sparse (the subject index ofComprehensive Organometallic Chemistry contains justthree entries under solubility!) for serious examination of reactivity trends in terms of initial state and transition state contributions to be possible in almost all areas. Moreover, there are some fundamental problems over transfer parameters. Thus, a favourite electrochemical assumption is that the ferrocene/ferrocinium redox potential is independent of solvent. Yet, the dependence of rate constants on medium for outer-sphere electron transfer in the ferrocene/ferrocinium system can only be understood⁽⁶⁶⁾ in terms of specific solvation effects which are incompatible with the parallel solvation changes of these two substrates implicit in the redox potential assumption. The solvation of organometallic species should prove a most rewarding area for continued study, but it will be some time before the overall picture becomes as clear as in the more limited area of classical transition metal complexes considered in the present Review.