Abstract
In order to investigate a mimic of aminopeptidase enzymes a novel macrocyclic dizinc complex was prepared. A protonated form of the dinucleating hexaazamacrocycle L, [H4L][NO3]4·2H2O, was characterized by X-ray crystallography. The macrocycle acts as a bis(tridentate) ligand in [Zn2L(NO3)4]·2H2O 1. Complex formation of L with Zn2+ in aqueous solution was investigated by potentiometric equilibrium measurements. Analysis of the titration data indicated that at pH > 7 the dinuclear, hydroxo-bridged species [Zn2L(µ-OH)]3+ and [Zn2L(µ-OH)(OH)]2+ dominate. Complex 1 is a catalyst for the hydrolysis of the activated carboxy ester p-nitrophenyl acetate, with no loss of activity for at least 2.7 catalytic cycles. The second-order rate constant for cleavage of p-nitrophenyl acetate by 1 at 20 °C and pH 8.65 is (6.2 ± 0.6)× 10–3 dm3 mol–1 s–1. The pH dependence of the hydrolysis rate suggests that [Zn2L(µ-OH)(OH)]2+ is the catalytically active species whereas [Zn2L(µ-OH)]3+ displays little or no reactivity. The relevance of the investigations to dizinc active sites in aminopeptidases is discussed.
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