2P32 – Principles of Inorganic Chemistry Dr. M.

Pilkington

Lecture 11 – Reaction Types and Mechanisms for Inorganic

Complexes

ƒ Variations in reactivity
ƒ Reaction types – substitution, dissociation, addition and redox
reactions, reactions of coordinated ligands.
ƒ Equilibrium constants for substitution reactions.
ƒ Kinetic vs. thermodynamic stability of metal complexes
ƒ Measuring rates of water exchange in aquometal ions.

Another Consequence of Crystal field Stabilization Energy

1. Variations in Reactivity:
Let's take as a single example the difference in ligand substitution rates for
the complexes [Co(NH3)6]3+ and [Ni(NH3)6]2+ . Each complex has a negative
enthalpy for the following reaction, so both complexes are thermodynamically
capable of undergoing ligand exchange with water.

[M(NH3)6]n+ + 6 H3O+ ---> [M(H2O)6]n+ + 6 NH4+

„ However, the exchange reaction for the nickel complex is very fast, while the
reaction for the cobalt complex takes days or weeks to go to completion. Why
is this?

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„ The short answer is found if we consider the reaction mechanism, i.e., how the
reaction must take place. There are two limiting possibilities, both of them
involving a 2-step reaction as shown below.

Mechanism 1. One of the NH3 ligands dissociates from the complex to give a 5-
coordinate intermediate. This intermediate then forms a complex with a water
molecule.

[M(NH3)6]n+ ---> [M(NH3)5]n+ + NH3

[M(NH3)5]n+ + H2O ---> [M(NH3)5H2O]n+

Repetition of this process ultimately gives the hexaaquo ion.

Mechanism 2. A water molecule coordinates to the complex to give a 7-coordinate

intermediate. This intermediate then loses an ammonia molecule.

[M(NH3)6]n+ + H2O ---> [M(NH3)6H2O]n+

[M(NH3)6H2O]n+ ---> [M(NH3)5H2O]n+ + NH3

„ The process repeats itself until the hexaaquo ion is formed.

„ Each of these mechanisms involves a reaction to give a reactive intermediate with a

different coordination number (5 or 7).

„ When M = Co(III) (low-spin d6), considerable crystal field stabilization is lost

because the CFSE is so much greater for octahedral coordination than the CFSE
than any possible geometry in 5- or 7-coordination. The loss in CFSE on going
from 6-coordination to 5- or 7-coordination increases the activation energy
for the reaction, thus slowing it.

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„ For most other ions, there is less loss (or even a gain) in CFSE on going from 6-
to 5- or 7-coordinate intermediates. Thus exchange reactions for these ions are
not retarded by the loss in CFSE.

2. Reaction Types for Inorganic Complexes

1. Substitution Reactions - one (or more) ligands replace another ligand

in the coordination sphere of a metal e.g.

[Pt(NH3)4]2+ + Cl- [Pt(NH3)3Cl]+ + NH3

„ These are the most common reactions of coordination compounds.

„ They involve substitution of one ligand in a coordination sphere for
another.

2. Dissociation Reactions – reactions which decrease in the coordination

number of the metal. e.g.

[Co(H20)6]Cl2 6H2O + CoCl2

6-coordinate 2-coordinate

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3. Addition Reactions –increases the coordination number of the
metal. e.g.
Cu(acac)2 + py Cu(acac)2py
4-coordinate 5-coordinate
A square planar bis(acetylacetonato)copper(II) molecule accepts
a pyridine (py) ligand to form a square pyramidal product.

O O
N
Acac
Py

4. Redox Reactions – oxidation-reduction or electron transfer

reactions.
[Ru(NH3)6]3+ + [Cr(H2O)6]2+ [Ru(NH3)6]2+ + [Cr(H2O)6]3+

The hexammineruthenium(III) ion is reduced by the reaction with

the Cr(II) ion,

5. Reactions of Coordinated Ligands

[Cr(H2O)6]3+ + OH- [Cr(H2O)5(OH)]2+ + H2O
Reactions of a ligand that take place without breaking the M-L bond.
e.g. water ligand in the hexaaquochromium(III) reacting with a
hydroxide ion to produce the corresponding hydroxo complex.
Or replacement of the central hydrogen of acac with a Br atom.

O O
Cr + 3Br2 Cr Br + 3HBr
O 3 O 3
Acac

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3. Equilibrium Constants for Metal Complex Formation

„ Stepwise constants – one ligand at a time is replaced:

For Example for the formation of : [Ni(NH3)6]2+

K1
[Ni(H2O)6]2+ [Ni(H2O)5NH3]2+ + H2O
NH3
K2
[Ni(H2O)5NH3]2+ [Ni(H2O)4(NH3)2]2+ + H2O
NH3

and so on for K3, k4, k5

K6
[Ni(H2O)(NH3)5]2+ + NH3 [Ni(NH3)6]2+ + H2O

K1 = 1st stepwise formation constant (equilibrium constant for

the formation of the complex).

K1 = [Ni(H2O)5NH3]2+
[Ni(H2O)6]2+[NH3]

K2 = [Ni(H2O)4(NH3)2]2+

[Ni(H2O)5(NH3)]2+[NH3]

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„ If we only want the reaction with addition of 2NH3

[Ni(H2O)6]2+ + 2NH3 [Ni(H2O)4(NH3)2]2+ + 2H2O

Overall Reaction

Overall Constant

2+
β2 = [Ni(H2O)4(NH3)2]
[Ni(H2O)6]2+[NH3]2

the formation
constant = beta

„ We can also arrive at the previous result by multiplying the first and
second equilibrium (formation) constants:

K1 x K2 = [Ni(H2O)5NH3]2+ [Ni(H2O)4(NH3)2]2+
[Ni(H2O)6]2+[NH3] [Ni(H2O)5(NH3)]2+[NH3]

[Ni(H2O)4(NH3)2]2+

[Ni(H2O)6]2+[NH3]2
= β2

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 „ So can we make this compound ….?
[Ni(NH3)6]2+ - to decide we have to look at the formation constant.

[Ni(NH3)6]2+
β6 =
[Ni(H2O)6]2+[NH3]6

= K1 x K2 x K3 x K4 x K5 x K6

For [Ni(NH3)6]2+ K1 = 6.3 x 102

K2 = 1.6 x 102
β6 = 5.4 x 108
K3 = 5 x 101
K4 = 16
K5 = 6.3
K6 = 1.1

i.e the formation constant is very large which means the complex
will be formed

„ It is generally true that:

K1>K2>K3>K4>K5>K6
„ This is partly statistical – the fewer H2O’s to replace, the less likely the
reaction will occur.
„ For [Ni(H2O)6]2+ - 6H2O’s and anyone of them can be replaced.
„ For [Ni(H2O)(NH3)5]2+ - only one H2O can be replaced.

4. Kinetics versus Thermodynamics – Stabilty (Stable or Unstable)

1. Thermodynamic stability: ΔG = ΔH – TΔS

where, ΔH = enthalpy or heat change; T is the
absolute temperature, and ΔS is the entropy
change/disorder.

ΔG = - RTlnK
where K is the formation constant

For “thermodynamic stability the requirements are K > 1, ΔG < O this means that
the products are more stable than the reactants.

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2. Kinetic Stability – refers to the rate of reaction.
„ Metal complexes that undergo substitution reactions very slowly are
said to be INERT.

„ Metal complexes that undergo substitution reactions very quickly are

said to be LABILE.

Examples:

1. [Co(NH3)6]3+ + 6H3O+ [Co(H2O)6]3+ + 6NH4+

K- the equilibrium (formation) constant for the reaction is extremely

large (1030) so we would say that the cation is unstable toward
reaction with acid, but it takes weeks or months to see any evidence
of reaction.
Accordingly [Co(NH3)6]3+ must be classified as being Unstable
thermodynamically but Inert kinetically.

2. [Co(NH3)]2+ + 6H2+ [Co(H2O)6]2+ + 6NH4+

The equilibrium constant K for the reaction is very large and the above
reaction is instantaneous.
Hence [Co(NH3)]2+ is kinetically Labile and Thermodynamically
Unstable.

3. [Ni(CN)4]2- is exceptionally stable (thermodynamically). The equilibrium

constant for its formation is in the vicinity of 1030.

Ni2+ + 4CN [Ni(CN)4]2- K = 1030

At the same time the complex anion is labile, that is the cyanide ligands
in the coordination sphere exchange rapidly with those found free in
aqueous solution.
[Ni(CN)4]2- + 14CN- [Ni(CN)3(14CN)]2- +CN-

[Ni(CN)4]2- is Stable but Labile.

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„ Some coordination compounds are kinetically inert, whereas others turn
out to be labile.

„ This lability seems to be unrelated to the thermodynamic stability of

the compound.

„ Complexes of the first row transition metal ions with the exception of
Cr3+ and Co3+ are generally labile, whereas most second and third row
transition metal ions are inert.

„ In the case of H2O exchange you can experimentally label with 17O or
18O and you can then see which ions are kinetically labile

Labile half life < 1 min

Inert half life > 1 min

5. Rates of water exchange in aquometal ions.

e.g. CaCl2 Ca2+ 2Cl-

Ca H ion-dipole interactions.
O
Lewis acid-base if Ca2+ is assumed to
Oδ
− H coordinate to the H2O
H
H

Ca2+ H
O

We can measure the rates of exchange of water:

[M(H2O)n]x+ + 18OH2 [M(H2O)n-118(OH2)]x+ + H2O

Water exchange rates (in text) page 103, Table 5.5

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Rate constants for water exchange for various ions

Group 1A – as we go down the group the cations are getting larger and the charge
density decreases so the Mn+-OH2 bond is getting weaker and more easily broken
Group 2A – the charge density is larger (doubly charged) so the strength of the
bond is greater so the rate of exchange is slower

„ Rates of Exchange:
Li+< Na+< K+< Cs+ Group 1A
Be2+< Mg2+< Ca 2+< Sr 2+< Ba2+ Group 2A
Al3+< Ga3+< In3+< Y3+< Sc3+ Group 3A

In these three series, the smallest ions exchange the slowest:

δ−
δ−
Li+….OH2 Cs+………OH2
Stonger because the Li+ Less strong attracting
Ion is smaller

Coloumb’s Law
E = Q+,Q-/r

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 Li+ O2- Cs+ O2-

d d
if we measure the distance between the centres of the atoms as used
in Coloumb's Law then we have much greater distance for Cs+-OH2.

This means the Li-OH2 bond is stronger than the Cs-OH2 since the
Lithium ion holds onto the electrons of the O2- and does not want to
break to release H2O as easily as Cs-OH2

„ Increasing charge on the ion – H2O exchange rates become slower.

This is because as the charge goes up the bond strength increases so
we have a stronger bond that is more reluctant to break to release the
water. Hence the higher +2 charged ions of Group 2A have slower
rates than the +1 charged Group 1A ions.

„ For elements in the main group or those transition metals with no d-

electrons those are the elements who tend to undergo water exchange
and ligand exchange reactions.

„ For transition metal ions the electronic configurations are important

because the CFSE will affect the rates of exchange here. For these
metal ions the rate of exchange is partially related to the size of the
cations and partly to the CFSE.

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