Protolytic dissociation mechanisms and comparative acid stabilities of palladium(II), zinc(II), copper(II), and nickel(II) complexes of alkylated dipyrrins

Complexes of Pd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) with alkylated dipyrrins (Hdpm) were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Protolytic dissociation kinetics of these complexes in benzene in the presence of acetic and trichloroacetic acid was studied. A protonated dipyrrin is the reaction product of protolytic dissociation of the complexes in acid solutions. The observed and true dissociation rate constants, as well as activation reaction parameters, were calculated. Kinetic models of the processes are proposed, and the patterns of influence of the ligand nature on dissociation kinetics were determined. The Pd(II) complexes proved to be much more stable than other those of the other metals, according to the results of the kinetic studies. The lability of the complexes strongly depends on the length and position of the alkyl substituent of the ligand. The dissociation of the Ni(II) complex gives a heteroligand complex at low concentrations of acid, but the complex undergoes full protolytic dissociation at higher concentrations of acid. The dissociation of the complex of Cu(II) is an equilibrium process, involving formation of the protonated form of the ligand.