Cobalt(III) complex catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphorus esters

1870

Inorg. Chem. 1984, 23, 1870-1876 Contribution from SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025

Cobalt(111) Complex Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Phosphorus Esters RICHARD A. KENLEY,+ RONALD H. FLEMING,* RICHARD M. LAINE, DORIS S. TSE, and JOHN S. WINTERLE Received January 18, 1983

A variety of cobalt(II1) complexes were prepared and investigated with respect to their effects on hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (PMP) and ethyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate(EPMP). The complexesconformed to the formula (N,)Co(OH)(OH,), where N4 is a bis-bidentate or tetradentate ligand such as 1,3-diaminopropane (tn), 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-l,2-diaminoethane(tme), 1,4,7,10-tetraazadecane (trien), or 2,2'-bipyridyl (bpy). The compounds accelerated the liberation of p-nitrophenolate (PNP) from PMP and from EPMP. The activities of the complexes as promoters for PMP and EPMP hydrolysis varied in the following order: (bpy),Co(OH)(OH,)