Solvent effects on the initial and transition states for the solvolysis of trans-dichlorobis-(N-methylethylenediamine) cobalt(III) complex in water-dimethyl sulfoxide mixtures

Solvent effects on the initial and transition states for the solvolysis of the trans-dichlorobis-(N-methylethylenediamine)cobalt(III), (meen), complex have been investigated in the 25-55 degrees C range in aqueous DMSO mixtures, of varying solvent composition up to 60% by vol. The log of the first order rate constant, k, varies non-linearly with the reciprocal of the dielectric constant at the same temperature, due to differential solvation of the initial and transition states. The changes in the enthalpy, Delta H double dagger, and entropy, Delta S double dagger, of activation with the mole fraction of the co-solvent show extrema at the composition range where the change in solvent structure occurs. The application of a free energy cycle to the process of the initial state going to the transition state suggests that the effect of solvent structure on the complex ion in the transition state dominates the initial state and that this effect increases as the mole fraction of co-solvent increases.