SUBSTITUTION AT OCTAHEDRAL CENTERS: II. EFFECT OF SALTS UPON THE RATE OF HYDROLYSIS OF THE HALOPENTAMMINECHROMIUM(III) IONS

Abstract

A study of the hydrolysis of the halopentamminechromium(III) ions in the presence of the sodium salts of weak acids reveals a rate acceleration due to specific ion-pair formation. The acceleration is due partly to a charge-transfer effect and partly to the fact that the ion helps to maintain the octahedral configuration of the complex in the transition state. It is concluded that the reaction occurs by dissociation, but without collapse of the structure to a five-co-ordinated intermediate.