Isomerization, of chelate rings

Isomerization reactions of complexes with three bidentate ligands (for example, from A to A) can occnr via initial dissociation of one point of attachment. After one end of the chelate ring dissociates, the resulting 5-coordinate intermediate can rearrange before reattachment of the loose end. This mechanism is similar to the reactions described in Sections 12.5.1 and 12.5.2 the ligand that dissociates in the first step is the same one that adds in the final step, after rearrangement. 

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Stereoisomers include cis and trans isomers, chiral isomers, compounds with different conformations of chelate rings, and other isomers that differ only in the geometry of attachment to the metal. The study of stereoisomers provided much of the experimental evidence used to develop and defend the Werner coordination theory. X-ray crystallography allows facile elucidation of isomeric structures as long as suitable crystals can be obtained. 

Formation of the least-hindered alkylzirconium complex during the course of the hydrozirconation-isomerization process of alkenes can be altered by the presence of aromatic rings, additional conjugative double bonds, chelating heteroatoms [81, 94] or groups that can be lost by elimination [95, 96]. 

If one end of a chelate ring on an octahedral complex is detached from the metal, the five-coordinate transition state can be considered as a fluxional molecule in which there is some interchange of positions. When the chelate ring reforms, it may be with a different orientation that could lead to racemization. If the chelate ring is not symmetrical (such as 1,2-diaminopropane rather than ethyl-enediamine), isomerization may also result. For reactions carried out in solvents that coordinate well, a solvent molecule may attach to the metal where one end of the chelating agent vacated. Reactions of this type are similar to those in which dissociation and substitution occur. 

Crotti and co-workers work on regiochemical control of ring opening of epoxides by means of chelating agents has continued. Under standard conditions the regio-isomeric C(l) derivatives are the sole products from the trans epoxides (22a) and (22b) and are the predominant products from the cis epoxides (23a) and (23b). Under chelating conditions the cis epoxides unexpectedly show a consistent increase in C(2) selectivity. The results are discussed in terms of electronic and steric effects. 

All these methods have found applications in theoretical considerations of numerous problems more or less directly related to solvent extraction. The MM calculated structures and strain energies of cobalt(III) amino acid complexes have been related to the experimental distribution of isomers, their thermodynamic stability, and some kinetic data connected with transition state energies [15]. The influence of steric strain upon chelate stability, the preference of metal ions for ligands forming five- and six-membered chelate rings, the conformational isomerism of macrocyclic ligands, and the size-match selectivity were analyzed [16] as well as the relation between ligand structures, coordination stereochemistry, and the thermodynamic properties of TM complexes [17]. 

In six-membered chelate rings such as those formed by 1,3-propanediamine (tn), at least two conformational energy minima, which correspond to an achiral chair structure (23a) and the chiral skew- or twist-boat forms (25b) and (25c),166-168 occur and both have been observed in crystal structures.169 176 The possible conformational isomerism in tn complexes is therefore even more involved than in en complexes.177 In (OC-6-12)-[CoCl2(tn)2]+ (tratns-[CoCl2(tn)2]+), for example, there are two achiral bis(chair) forms (26a and 26b), two enantiomeric (chair, skew-boat) forms (26c and 26d), one achiral form (26e) and two enantiomeric bis (skew-boat) forms (26f and 26g). Several of these have been isolated in conformationally locked systems.178 180... 

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