STEREOSELECTIVE ISOMERIZATION OF CHIRAL COBALT(III) COMPLEXES

The isomerization reactions among the geometrical isomers of chiral co mplexes, [Co(edma)2]+, [Co(ida)(edma)], and [Co(mida)(edma)], have bee n studied in a weakly basic aqueous solution. Some of the optical acti ve isomers exhibited stereoselective isomerization without the loss of optical activity. It was suggested that the isomerization of the isom er with facially or meridionally chelated-ligands proceeded through th e deprotonated five-coordinated intermediate formed by Co-O bond-ruptu re in the conjugate-base form.