Structure of the Second Coordination Sphere of Transition Metal Complexes. II. Substituted Anilines as Ligands

The role of substituted anilines as second coordination sphere ligands of cobalt(II) complexes has been investigated. Chemical shifts of the ligand nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectra arising from pseudo-contact interaction with the paramagnetic cobalt complex have been utilized for this purpose. It has been found that in each case the aniline preferentially occupies a position perpendicular to the three fold symmetry axis of the complex and tends to be aligned with the amino group directed towards the cobalt atom. Electron withdrawing substituents para to the amino group enhance the second coordination sphere binding and electron donating substituents diminish it. These results are consistent with the idea that the structure of the second coordination sphere is determined by electrostatic interaction with the negatively charged ligands comprising the first coordination sphere. There is competition between aniline molecules and solvent molecules for a position in the second sphere with the solvent competing with increasing effectiveness in the series carbon tetrachloride, benzene, and methylene chloride.