Complex formation between nickel(II) and 2-(2-aminoethyl) benzimidazole: A kinetic and equilibrium study

Summary The reversible complex formation between 2-(2-aminoethyl) benzimidazole (AEB) and nickel(II) was studied by stopped flow spectrophotometry at I = 0.30 mol dm^–3. Both the neutral and monoprotonated form of AEB reacted to give the NiAEB²⁺ chelate. At 25 °C, the rates and activation parameters for the reactions Ni_II + AEB NiAEB²⁺ and Ni^II + AEBH⁺ NiAEB²⁺ + H⁺ are k _f ^L(dm^–3 mol^–1 s^–1) = (2.17 ± 0.24) × 10³, H (kJ mol^–1) = 40.0 ± 0.8, S (JK^–1 mol^–1) = – 47 ± 3 and k _inff ^pHL (dm³ mol^–1 s^–1) = 33 ± 10, H (kJ mol^–1) = 42.0 ±2.7, S (JK^–1 mol^–1) = – 72 ± 9. The dissociation of NiAEB²⁺ was acid catalysed and k _obs for this process increased linearly with H⁺] in the 0.01–0.15 mol dm^–3 (10–30 °C) range with k _H(dm³ mol^–1s^–1) (25 °C) = 329 ± 6, H (kJ mol^–1) = 40 ± 2 and S (JK^–1 mol^–1) = – 61 ± 8. The results also indicated that the formation of NiAEB²⁺ involves a chelation-controlled, rate-limiting process. Analysis of the S ° data for the acid ionisation of AEBH _inf2 ^p2+ and the formation of NiAEB²⁺ showed that the bulky AEBH⁺ ion has a solvent structure breaking effect as compared to AEB s _aqS ° (AEBH⁺) – s _aq ° (AEB) = 69 JK^–1 mol^–1], while AEBH _inf2 ^p2+ is a solvent ordering ion relative to NiAEB²⁺ s _aq° (NiAEB²⁺) – ovS _aq ° (AEBH _inf2 ^p2+ ) = 11 JK^–1 mol^–1].Author to whom all correspondence should be directed.