Abstract:
Topical interest in the metal ion promoted hydrolysis of amino acid derivatives has attracted the attention of many chemists Apart from its potential biological applications, the field stands as one of the more unusual branches of coordination chemistry. In this thesis an investigation is centred around the base hydrolysis of cis-chloro(N-ethyl glycinate) bisethylenediamine cobalt(III) chloride, [Co(en)2(NH2CH2CO2CH2CH3)Cl] Cl2.
It should be appreciated that one decided advantage in studying this system is in the use of non-labile cobalt(III) complexes. In contrast, studies involving copper(II) and nickel(II) make it difficult to establish the nature of the catalytically active species in solution. Studies of the copper(II) promoted amino acid ester hydrolysis have shown that either or both of two complexes are necessary intermediates to explain the rate acceleration M. L. Bender, and B. W. Turnquest, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 78, 5119 (1956)., N. E. Cohen, "A Study of Metal Ion Catalysed Ester Hydrolysis" (M.Sc. Thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, 1966).
