Advances in the mechanistic understanding of selected reactions of transition metal polyaminecarboxylate complexes

Abstract This review deals with the reaction mechanisms of polyaminecarboxylate complexes of different transition metals such as Fe, Mn, Ni, and Ru. Three types of chemical processes are treated, viz. water-exchange reactions, the binding of NO, and the activation of peroxides. In each case, the nature of the polyaminecarboxylate chelate and its influence on the underlying reaction mechanism are considered. In general, the complexes are either six- or seven-coordinate and all contain a coordinated water molecule. The lability of the latter is controlled by the nature of the polyaminecarboxylate chelate and the oxidation state of the metal ion. The binding of NO and the activation of peroxide are in turn controlled by the lability of the coordinated water molecule that is displaced during the interaction with these small molecules.