Transmetallation of nickel(II) ion in a nickel(II) azamacrocyclic complex with gold(III) ion

The Ni(II) macrocyclic complex [Ni(L)]2+ (L=1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane) reacts with AuCl4− in MeCN, and the Ni(II) ion in the macrocyclic complex is exchanged with Au(III) ion. The kinetic study on the transmetallation reaction shows that the rate is inhibited by acid and Cl−, which is explained in mechanistic terms.