Complex Formation Reactions of (2,2′-dipyridylamine)copper(II) with Various Biologically Relevant Ligands. The Kinetics of Hydrolysis of Amino Acid Esters

Abstract

Binary and ternary copper(II) complexes involving 2,2′-dipyridylamine (DPA) and various biologically relevant ligands containing different functional groups are investigated. The ligands used are dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, peptides and DNA unit constituents. The ternary complexes of amino acids, dicarboxylic acids or peptides are formed by simultaneous reactions. The results showed the formation of 1:1 complexes with amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. The effect of chelate ring size of the dicarboxylic acid complexes on their stability constants was examined. Peptides form both 1:1 complexes and the corresponding deprotonated amide species. The ternary complexes of copper(II) with DPA and DNA are formed in a stepwise process, whereby binding of copper(II) to DPA is followed by ligation of the DNA components. DNA constituents form both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with Cu(DPA)2+. The concentration distribution of the complexes in solution was evaluated. [Cu(DPA)(CBDCA)], [Cu(DPA)(malonate)] and [Cu(DPA)(oxalate)] were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. and magnetic measurements. Spectroscopic studies of [Cu(DPA)(malonate)] revealed that the complex exhibits square planner coordination with copper(II). The hydrolysis of glycine methyl ester (MeGly) is catalyzed by the Cu(DPA)2+ complex. The reaction has been studied by a pH-state technique over the pH range 5.8–6.8 at 25 °C and I=0.1 mol dm−1. The kinetic data fits assuming that the hydrolysis proceeds in two steps. The first step, involving coordination of the amino acid ester by the amino and carboxylic group, is followed by the rate-determining attack by the OH− ion. The second step involves equilibrium formation of the hydroxo-complex, Cu(DPA)(MeGly)(OH), followed by intramolecular attack.