Two mixed metal binuclear complexes, [(NH3)(5)Co-III (nta)Cu-II](2+) (
1) and [(NH3)(5)Co-III(pyc)Cu-II](4+) (2; nta = nitrilotriacetate and
pyc = pyridine-2-carboxylate) have been synthesized and characterized
on the basis of elemental analysis; UV-vis, IR, ESR spectroscopy; magn
etic and electrochemical measurements. A stopped flow kinetic study in
dicated that the dissociation of (NH3)(5)Co(nta)Cu2+ occured via spont
aneous and acid catalysed paths. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.