Ligand substitution reactions, classification

In a ligand substitution reaction, two groups must always receive attention. There is a bond to the leaving group to be broken and a bond to the entering group to be formed. The relative importance of these two processes provides a basic dichotomy for the classification of substitutions. If a reaction rate is sensitive to... 

The mechanistic classification generally accepted for ligand substitution reactions was proposed by Langford and Gray in 1965 (19). This classification was often discussed in the literature and its principles are only summarized here for convenience. 

Langford and Gray proposed in 1965 (13) a mechanistic classification for ligand substitution reactions, which is now generally accepted and summarized here for convenience. In their classification they divided ligand substitution reactions into three categories of stoichiometric mechanisms associative (A) where an intermediate of increased coordination number can be detected, dissociative (D) where an intermediate of reduced coordination number can be detected, and interchange (I) where there is no kinetically detectable intermediate [Eqs. (2)-(4)]. In Eqs. (2)-(4), MX -i and... 

A further factor which must also be taken into consideration from the point of view of the analytical applications of complexes and of complex-formation reactions is the rate of reaction to be analytically useful it is usually required that the reaction be rapid. An important classification of complexes is based upon the rate at which they undergo substitution reactions, and leads to the two groups of labile and inert complexes. The term labile complex is applied to those cases where nucleophilic substitution is complete within the time required for mixing the reagents. Thus, for example, when excess of aqueous ammonia is added to an aqueous solution of copper(II) sulphate, the change in colour from pale to deep blue is instantaneous the rapid replacement of water molecules by ammonia indicates that the Cu(II) ion forms kinetically labile complexes. The term inert is applied to those complexes which undergo slow substitution reactions, i.e. reactions with half-times of the order of hours or even days at room temperature. Thus the Cr(III) ion forms kinetically inert complexes, so that the replacement of water molecules coordinated to Cr(III) by other ligands is a very slow process at room temperature. 

Base catalysis of ligand substitutional processes of metal carbonyl complexes in the presence of oxygen donor bases may be apportioned into two distinct classifications. The first category of reactions involves nucleophilic addition of oxygen bases at the carbon center in metal carbonyls with subsequent oxidation of CO to C02, eqns. 1 and 2 (l, 2). Secondly, there are... 

The kinetics and mechanisms of substitution reactions studied in detail have been reviewed elsewhere 1-3). Here we shall summarize some recent data obtained in this field. As far as terminology is concerned, in the majority of cases that of Ingold 4) has been used, in which substitution of one ligand by another is regarded as a nucleophilic (SN) reaction. However, such a classification is rather rigid, and the term nucleophilicity is imprecise if one considers the variety of ligands from the simplest anions to olefins, acetylenes, arenes, etc. 

LcAile metal ions react essentially on mixing of the metal ion and ligand solutions, that is, within a few seconds at most Inert metal ions require at least a few minutes for their substitution reactions to be complete. This operational classification provides a useful practical classification that has endured as a qualitative description of the reactivity of a metal ion. 

Owing to this basic lack of knowledge we have preferred a more formal classification of the reactivity of HNCC based on the product obtained from the reaction itself. Reactions of HNCC have therefore been classified in four main types reduction, oxidation, substitution, and oxidative addition. Simple addition of neutral ligands, which results in destruction of the cluster, is a common secondary process it is mainly discussed with substitution. 

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