Protons metal ions and

Lability for at least one coordination site has been adequately demonstrated in the traditionally inert metal complexes in recent decades. Induction of lability by chemical reactions on a normally poor leaving group, by metal ions, protons, and base and by polyelectrolytes and micelles, offer opportunities in specific circumstances. Largely during the last decade, however, a number of ligands have appeared that are poor nucleophiles and inherently labile. Such molecules, of which tri-fluoromethanesulfonate is the most extensively studied, are univer-... 

Figure 6.10b compares complexation of Cu(II) by citrate, glycine, salicylate, and ammonia as a function of pH. As for Fe(III) complexation, multidentate ligands have relatively greater stability than monodentate (citrate versus ammonia citrate versus salicylate). The quantitatively different interactions of ligands, metal ions, protons, and hydroxide ions are evident in both Figures 6.10a and 6.10b. 

---