Kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of aluminium(III) with β-diketones in aqueous solution

The kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of aluminium(III) with pentane-2,4-dione (Hpd), 1,1,1-trifluoro pentane-2,4-dione (Htfpd) and heptane-3,5-dione (Hhptd) have been investigated in aqueous solution at 25°C and ionic strength 0.5 mol dm⁻³ sodium perchlorate. The kinetic data are consistent with a mechanism in which aluminium(III) reacts with the β-diketones by two pathways, one of which is acid independent while the second exhibits a second-order inverse-acid dependence. The acid-independent pathway is ascribed to a mechanism in which [Al(H₂O)₆]³⁺ reacts with the enol tautomers of Hpd, Htfpd, and Hhptd with rate constants of 1.7(±1.3)×10⁻², 0.79(±0.21), and 7.5(±1.6)×10⁻³ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The inverse acid pathway is consistent with a mechanism in which [Al(H₂O)₅(OH)]²⁺ reacts with the enolate ions of Hpd, Htfpd, and Hhptd with rate constants of 4.32(±0.18)×10⁶, 5.84(±0.24)×10³, and 1.67(±0.05)×10⁷ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. An alternative formulation involves a pathway in which [Al(H₂O)₄(OH)₂]⁺ reacts with the protonated enol tautomers of the ligands. This gives rate constants of 2.79(±0.12)×10⁴, 3.86(±0.16)×10⁵, and 8.98(±0.25)×10³ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ for reaction with Hpd, Htfpd, and Hhptd, respectively. Consideration of the kinetic data reported here together with data from the literature, suggest that [Al(H₂O)₅(OH)]²⁺ reacts by an associative or associative-interchange mechanism. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 257–266, 1998.