The Kinetic Activation Volumes for the Binding of Iodide to Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Studied on a High Pressure Laser Temperature Jump Apparatus

Abstract

The relaxation kinetics of the reaction of iodide with cobalamin (vitamin B12) were studied on a high pressure laser temperature jump apparatus in aqueous solution at 25° and ionic strength 0.2 M. Analysis of the pressure dependence of the formation and dissociation rate constants gave their respective volumes of activation to be: ΔVf* = 5.50 ± 0.8 cm3 mol−1 and ΔVd* = 11.5 ± 1.6 cm3 mol−1 The positive activation volume for formation of the complex, ΔVf*, after appropriate correction for the volume change due to formation of an outer sphere complex, is consistent with a dissociative type mechanism in which the metal ion – water bond is stretched in the activated complex.