Kinetics and mechanism of base-catalyzed hydrolysis of Cu(II)-malonamide complex

A kinetic study of base-catalyzed hydrolysis of Cu(II)-malonamide complex has been performed in sodium hydroxide solution (0.2–1.25M). The reaction follows an irreversible first-order consecutive path: The variation of k_1obs and k_2obs with alkali concentration was found to be in good agreement with the equations: where B₁, B₂, C₁, and C₂ are empirical constants. The mechanism of hydrolysis of Cu(II)-malonamide complex has been discussed and rate equations have been derived. Retardation of rate of hydrolysis due to coordination of Cu(II) with malonamide, in alkaline medium, has been explained in terms of comparatively slow breakdown of the C? N bond of the tetrahedral intermediate (TI). Thermodynamic parameters have also been evaluated.