The formation of tris(2,4-pentanediono)chromium(III) in the presence of trichloroethanoate and other carboxylate ions in aqueous solution

Abstract

The effect of trichloroethanoate and other carboxylate ions on the formation of tris(2,4-pentanediono)chromium(III), Cr(acac)3, has been investigated. It has been found that some carboxylate ions labilize the reaction while others deactivate it. The synthesis of Cr(acac)3 in the presence of trichloroethanoate ion has been found to have advantage over the literature methods. The formation of Cr(acac)3 in the presence of trichloroethanoate anion passes through an intermediate species which has been isolated and characterized as bis(2,4-pentanediono)trichloroethanoatoaquochromium(III). It has been postulated that the catalysation of reaction by the other carboxylate ions is due to the formation of intermediate species in which these ions participate.

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Abstracted in part from H. Ssekaalo's Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nairobi, 1975.