Base catalysed substitution reactions of octahedral cobalt(III) complexes: Mechanism switching by changing the leaving group

The [Co(pentaamine)X]n+ complexes studied bear at least one N-coordinated -CH2-pyridine group. The mechanism for base catalysed hydrolysis can be switched from the classic SN1CB to the pseudo-aminate mechanism, which involves rate limiting deprotonation, by simply changing the leaving group.