Mechanistic diversity covering 15 orders of magnitude in rates: cyanide exchange on [M(CN)(4)](2-) (M = Ni, Pd, and Pt).

Kinetic studies of cyanide exchange on [M(CN)(4)](2-) square-planar complexes (M = Pt, Pd, and Ni) were performed as a function of pH by (13)C NMR. The [Pt(CN)(4)](2-) complex has a purely second-order rate law, with CN(-) as acting as the nucleophile, with the following kinetic parameters: (k(2)(Pt,CN))(298) = 11 +/- 1 s(-1) mol(-1) kg, DeltaH(2) (Pt,CN) = 25.1 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(2) (Pt,CN) = -142 +/- 4 J mol(-1) K(-1), and DeltaV(2) (Pt,CN) = -27 +/- 2 cm(3) mol(-1).