Ligand-exchange reaction between tris(1,10-phenanthroline)metal(II) and tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10 phenanthroline)metal(II) ions

The ligand exchange reaction between [M(phen)₃]²⁺ and [M(DIP)₃]²⁺ (where M is the same and M = Fe^II or Ni^II, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, DIP = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) has been investigated by reversed phase ion-paired chromatography (RP-IPC). The effect of pH and solvent on the ligand-exchange reaction is studied by monitoring the variation in chromatograms with time after mixing. The results have shown that the ligand exchange reaction between [M(phen)₃]²⁺ and [M(DIP)₃]²⁺ takes place in the pH range of 3 - 8 and the rate of reaction for nickel(II) complexes is about two times slower than, that for iron(II) complexes. Experiments on the effect of various solvents on the ligand-exchange reaction have revealed that the rate of reaction is enhanced by the solvent in the following order: (CH₃)₂CO > CHCl₃ ≥ CH₂Cl₂ > CH₃CN > CH₃OH. Elemental analysis and UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed that the products obtained from the ligand-exchange reaction are mixed-ligand complexes containing phen and DIP ligands, i.e., [M(phen)₂(DIP)]²⁺ and [M(phen)(DIP)₂]²⁺.