PNPP catalytic hydrolysis by mono- and binuclear transition-metal complexes with polyether-bridged dihydroxamic acids

Polyether-bridged dihydroxamic acids and their mono- and binuclear copper(II), and cobalt(II) complexes have been synthesized and employed as models to mimic hydrolase in the catalytic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl picolinate (PNPP). The kinetics and the mechanism of PNPP hydrolysis have been investigated. The kinetic mathematical model of PNPP cleavage by the complexes has been proposed. The effects of the different central metal ion, mono- and binuclear metal, the pseudo-macrocyclic polyether constructed by the polyethoxy group in complexes, and reactive temperature on the rate of PNPP catalytic hydrolysis have been examined. The results show that the transition-metal dihydroxamates exhibit high catalytic activity in the PNPP hydrolysis; the rate of the PNPP hydrolysis increases with the increase in pH of the buffer solution; the catalytic activity of binuclear complexes is higher than that of mononuclear complexes; the catalytic activity of copper(II) complex is about four times that of the cobalt(II) complex; the pseudo-macrocyclic polyether can synergetically activate H₂O coordinated to the metal ion with the central metal ion together and promote the PNPP catalytic hydrolysis.