Octahedral cobalt(III) complexes of the chloropentammine type. XXIII. The mercury(II)-induced aquation of some cis-Chloropyridinebis(ethylenediamine) cobalt(III) complexes

Abstract

The second-order rate constants for the mercury(II)-induced aquation of some cis-chloropyridinebis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) cations have been measured in aqueous solution over a range of temperatures. The results are interpreted in terms of the formation of an activated complex Co-Cl-Hg, which yields the aquo product by a unimolecular aquation with HgCl⁺ as the leaving group. The competitive influences of the steric and inductive effects of alkyl substituents are discussed.