Influence of charge on adduct formation of [M(phen)3]z+ (M = Ru2+, Co3+, Si4+) with 1,10-phenanthroline in aqueous solution

Abstract

Adduct formation of the inert complexes Ru(phen)32+, Co(phen)33+ and Si(phen)34+ with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) has been studied by potentiometry and calorimetry in aqueous solution containing 0.1 mol dm−3 NaCl as an ionic medium at 298 K. Formation of a 1:1 adduct, in which planar 1,10-phenanthroline molecules are stacked, has been found for all the inert complexes and their formation constants, enthalpies and entropies were obtained. Adduct formation constants are hardly influenced by the ionic charges of the metal center. The enthalpy values are all negative, indicating that a specific π–π interaction operates between stacked 1,10-phenanthroline molecules. The corresponding entropy values are positive for Ru(phen)32+ and Co(phen)33+, while it is negative for Si(phen)34+. The positive entropies indicate that reduction of hydrophobic hydration upon stacking also plays a key role in the adduct formation. Both enthalpy and entropy values significantly decrease with increasing charge, and they strongly compensate to give similar formation constants. This implies that hydrophobic hydration around aromatic rings within the inert complexes is reduced to a greater extent with increasing charge, Ru(phen)32+<Co(phen)33+<Si(phen)34+. 1,10-Phenanthroline forms protonated H(phen)+ and H(phen)2+ species in an acidic solution, and 1,10-phenanthroline molecules are stacked in the latter. The enthalpy and entropy of formation of H(phen)2+ are significantly negative, also indicating that π–π interaction play an essential role in the formation of H(phen)2+. On the other hand, both the enthalpy and entropy of solution of 1,10-phenanthroline remain unchanged in solution containing NaCl over the range 0.05–1 mol dm−3, suggesting that hydrophobic hydration shells are restricted at the vicinity of 1,10-phenanthroline.