Ligand-Exchange Reaction Between Tris(1,10-Phenanthroline)metal(ii) and Tris(4,7-Diphenyl-1,10-Phenanthroline)metal(ii) Ions

The ligand exchange reaction between [M(phen)3]2+ and [M(DIP)3]2+ (where M is the same and M = FeII or NiII, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, DIP = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) has been investigated by reversed phase ion-paired chromatography (RP-IPC). The effect of pH and solvent on the ligand-exchange reaction is studied by monitoring the variation in chromatograms with time after mixing. The results have shown that the ligand exchange reaction between [M(phen)3]2+ and [M(DIP)3]2+ takes place in the pH range of 3–8 and the rate of reaction for nickel(II) complexes is about two times slower than that for iron(II) complexes. Experiments on the effect of various solvents on the ligand-exchange reaction have revealed that the rate of reaction is enhanced by the solvent in the following order: (CH3)2CO > CHCl3 ≥ CH2Cl2 > CH3CN > CH3OH. Elemental analysis and UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed that the products obtained from the ligand-exchange reaction are mixed-ligand complexes containing phen and DIP ligands, i.e., [M(phen)2(DIP)]2+ and [M(phen)(DIP)2]2+.