Potential energy surfaces variation with relative kinetic

The reactions of P-donor nucleophiles with the metal carbonyl cluster Rh4COi2 have been studied over a considerable time period.It is widely accepted that the reaction is associative. This latest investigation is aimed at quantifying the effects of the electronic and steric properties of the nucleophiles upon the kinetic parameters. A rapid substitution reaction step using an excess of the nucleophile was monitored by SF spectrophotometry. Second-order rate constants were obtained from the variation of the pseudo-first-order rate constants with nucleophile concentration. Contributions to these constants from the properties steric effect, TT-activity, and, in addition, an aryl effect of the nucleophiles were assessed in a multi-parameter equation. The outcome is a successful understanding of the relative reactivities of many P-donors toward the rhodium cluster. The data were also represented by a three-dimensional potential energy surface. 

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