Rates and mechanism of co-ordination of labile transition metal ions with tri- and tetra-azamacrocycles functionalised with a single pendent co-ordinating 2,2′-bipyridyl-6-yl-methyl arm: evidence for two-stage reactions with initial co-ordination of the pendent bipyridyl group

Kinetic studies show that azamacrocycles functionalised with pendent co-ordinating 2,2′-bipyridyl-yl-methyl arms co-ordinate to labile metal ions in two stages; the first stage is rapid and second-order, and involves formation of an intermediate with rate-determining co-ordination of the pendent bipyridyl arm, and the second stage is slower and first-order, involving chelation by the macrocyclic ring.