Kinetics of the cis‐trans isomerization of the diaquotetra‐amminecobalt(III) cation and conjugate bases

A study is reported on the cis-trans isomerization rates and equilibria of the ions Co(NH3)4(H2O)23+, Co(NH3)4(OH)(H2O)2+ and Co(NH3)4(OH)2+ in acidic and ammoniacal solutions. The relative reaction rates follow the pattern shown by the analogous ethylenediamine complexes, whereas the absolute rates for the ammine complexes studied are a 100 times larger.