DNA binding studies of new valine derived chiral complexes of tin(IV) and zirconium(IV)

Valine derived chiral complexes of SnCl4 (1) and ZrCl4 (2) were designed as potent antitumor agents. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, 119Sn NMR and ESI mass spectroscopy. In vitro binding studies of complexes 1 and 2 under physiological conditions at room temperature with CT-DNA were carried out employing UV-vis absorption titration, fluorescence studies and viscosity measurements. The extent of binding was quantified by Kb values of complexes 1 and 2 which were found to be 1.97×10(4) and 1.17×10(3) M(-1), respectively, suggesting that complex 1 has significantly greater DNA binding propensity in contrast to the complex 2. The mode of action at the molecular level was ascertained by the interaction of complex 1 with 5'GMP and 5'TMP which revealed that complex 1 binds via electrostatic mode with the oxygen of the negatively charged surface phosphate group of the DNA helix. The supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA cleavage activity of complex 1 was ascertained by gel electrophoresis assay.     

New selectivity in peptide hydrolysis by metal complexes. Platinum(II) complexes promote cleavage of peptides next to the tryptophan residue

Tryptophan-containing N-acetylated peptides AcTrp-Gly, AcTrp-Ala, AcTrp-Val, and AcTrp-ValOMe bind to platinum(II) and undergo selective hydrolytic cleavage of the C-terminal amide bond; the N-terminal amide bond remains intact. In acetone solution, bidentate coordination of the tryptophanyl residue via the C(3) atom of indole and the amide oxygen atom produces complexes of spiro stereochemistry, which are characterized by (1)H, (13)C, and (195)Pt NMR spectroscopy, and also by UV-vis, IR, and mass spectroscopy. Upon addition of 1 molar equiv of water, these complexes undergo hydrolytic cleavage. This reaction is as much as 10(4)-10(5) times faster in the presence of platinum(II) complexes than in their absence. The hydrolysis is conveniently monitored by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. We report the kinetics and mechanism for this reaction between cis-[Pt(en)(sol)(2)](2+), in which the solvent ligand is water or acetone, and AcTrp-Ala. The platinum(II) ion as a Lewis acid activates the oxygen-bound amide group toward nucleophilic attack of solvent water. The reaction is unimolecular with respect to the metal-peptide complex. Because the tryptophanyl fragment AcTrp remains coordinated to platinum(II) after cleavage of the amide bond, the cleavage is not catalytic. Added ligand, such as DMSO and pyridine, displaces AcTrp from the platinum(II) complex and regenerates the promoter. This is the first report of cleavage of peptide bonds next to tryptophanyl residues by metal complexes and one of the very few reports of organometallic complexes involving metal ions and peptide ligands. Because these complexes form in nonaqueous solvents, a prospect for cleavage of membrane-bound and other hydrophobic proteins with new regioselectivity has emerged.     

New route to the synthesis of bis[N-(2-aminoethyl) salicylaldiminato] chromium(III) chloride monohydrate Spectroscopic characterization, crystal structure and interaction with DNA

The reaction of [Cr(urea)(6)]Cl(3).3H(2)O with H(2)salen (H(2)salen=N,N(')-ethylenebis(salicylaldimine) in water-methanol mixture (40:60v/v) under reflux yielded the complex bis[N-(2-aminoethyl)salicylaldiminato]chromium(III) chloride monohydrate, [Cr(aesaldmn)(2)]Cl.H(2)O. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, spectroscopic (UV-vis and IR) data and X-ray diffraction studies. The new ligand, N-(2-aminoethyl)salicylaldimine, Haesaldmn, possibly resulted from the hydrolytic cleavage of one end of the H(2)salen ligand during reflux. Binding of this chromium(III) complex to CT DNA has been studied using UV-vis spectroscopy with an apparent binding constant of 2.68 x 10(3)M(-1). It shows that the binding mode is electrostatic while the emission of ethidium bromide to CT DNA in the absence and in the presence of the complex show that it binds DNA with partial intercalation.     

Hydrolysis of the amide bond in N-acetylated l-methionylglycine catalyzed by various platinum(II) complexes under physiologically relevant conditions

The hydrolytic reactions between various Pt(II) complexes of the type [Pt(L)Cl₂] and [Pt(L)(CBDCA-O,O′] (L is ethylenediamine, en; (±)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, dach; (±)-1,2-propylenediamine, 1,2-pn and CBDCA is the 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic anion) and the N-acetylated l-methionylglycine dipeptide (MeCOMet-Gly) were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. All reactions were realized at 37 °C with equimolar amounts of the Pt(II) complex and the dipeptide at pH 7.40 in 50 mM phosphate buffer in D₂O. Under these experimental conditions, a very slow cleavage of the Met-Gly amide bond was observed and this hydrolytic reaction proceeds through the intermediate [Pt(L)(H₂O)(MeCOMet-Gly-S)]⁺ complex. In general, it can be concluded that faster hydrolytic cleavage of the MeCOMet-Gly dipeptide was observed in the reaction with the chloride complex than with corresponding CBDCA Pt(II) complexes. The steric effects of the Pt(II) complex on the hydrolytic cleavage of the amide bond in the MeCOMet-Gly dipeptide were also investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the rate of hydrolysis decreases as the steric bulk of the CBDCA and chlorido Pt(II) complexes increase (en > 1,2-pn > dach). These results contribute to a better understanding of the toxic side effects of Pt(II) antitumor drugs and should be taken into consideration when designing new potential Pt(II) antitumor drugs with preferably low toxic side effects.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic studies and crystal structure of the Schiff base ligand L derived from condensation of 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and its complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II): Comparative DNA binding studies of L and its Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes

The Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis-(2-thiophenecarboxaldimine)-3,3'-diaminobenzidine (L) obtained from condensation of 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine, was used to synthesize the complexes of type, [M2L2]Cl4 [M=Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II)]. The newly synthesized ligand (L) was characterized on the basis of the results of elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectroscopic studies and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The characteristic resonance signals in 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra indicated the presence of azomethine group as a result of condensation reaction. The stoichiometry, bonding and stereochemistries of complexes were ascertained on the basis of results of elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, molar conductance and spectroscopic studies viz., FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV-vis and EPR. EPR, UV-vis and magnetic moment data revealed an octahedral geometry for complexes with distortion in Cu(II) complex and conductivity data show 1:2 electrolytic nature of complexes. Absoption and fluorescence spectroscopic studies supported that Schiff base ligand L and its Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes exhibited significant binding to calf thymus DNA. The complexes exhibited higher affinity to calf thymus DNA than the free Schiff base ligand L.     

Formation mechanism of 2-methyl-2-buten-1,4-diol and 2-methyl-3-buten-1,2-diol from 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene on a head-to-head pivalamidato-bridged cis-diammineplatinum(III) binuclear complex

Reactions of a pivalamidato-bridged head-to-head (HH) platinum(III) binuclear complex with 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene) and p-styrenesulfonate and of an α-pyrrolidonato-bridged HH platinum(III) binuclear complex with p-styrenesulfonate were studied kinetically using UV-vis spectrophotometry and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and detailed reaction mechanisms are proposed. Pt(III) binuclear complexes react with p-styrenesulfonate in four successive steps with mechanisms similar to that for an HH α-pyridonato-bridged Pt(III) binuclear complex with p-styrenesulfonate. In the case of isoprene, four steps were observed on the basis of UV-vis spectrophotometry. However, the reaction kinetics for steps 1 and 2 correspond to those for the previous reaction system, and those for steps 3 and 4 do not correspond to those for the previous system or to those observed by using (1)H NMR spectroscopy for the present isoprene system. By using UV-vis spectrophotometry, it was shown that isoprene preferentially π-coordinates to the Pt(N(2)O(2)) atom via the double bond adjacent to the methyl group in step 1. In step 2, a second isoprene molecule π-coordinates to the Pt(N(4)) atom, which is the rate-determining step, followed by nucleophilic attack of a water molecule on the π-coordinated isoprene on the Pt(N(2)O(2)) atom to form two isomeric σ-complexes. In the same step, π-coordinated isoprene on the Pt(N(4)) atom of the σ-complexes is released. This is different from the reaction of the Pt(III) binuclear complexes with other olefins. In step 3, reductive elimination of the σ-complexes occurs to form two diols and the HH pivalamidato-bridged Pt(II) binuclear complex. Finally, acid decomposition of the Pt(II) binuclear complex occurs to form monomers in step 4. From (1)H NMR spectroscopic observations, fast isomerization between σ-complexes and reductive elimination of the σ-complexes occurs in step 3, and isomerization from a 1,4-diol to a 1,2-diol occurs in step 4.     

A Novel Mononuclear Copper（Ⅱ） Complex：Crystal Structure and DNA Cleavage Ability

The reaction of N-tosylatirdine with 1,2-diaminopropane in dry benzene solution yields an intermediate H2L, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-(p-tolylsulfonyl)aminoethyl) propane-1,2-diamine. The mononuclear copper(Ⅱ) complex, [CuLH2O]·H2O, was synthesized by the reaction between the intermediate and copper(Ⅱ) in absolute methanol. The complex has been characterized by IR, UV-vis and X-ray diffraction technology, and its crystal crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca with a = 15.589(1), b = 21.897(2), c = 27.645(2) , V = 9436.4(1) 3, Dc = 1.352 g/cm3, Z = 8, Mr = 960.68, F(000) = 4040, μ(MoKa) = 0.698 mm-1, S = 0.98, R = 0.0537 and wR = 0.1180 for 5804 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). In the crystal structure, a one-dimensional chain is formed by abundant hydrogen bond interactions. The interaction of the complex with DNA was monitored using agarose gel electrophoresis. The result shows that the complex can transform the supercoiled to nicked and liner forms, and has a concentration-dependent cleavage activity.     

DNA binding studies of novel Copper(II) complexes containing L-tryptophan as chiral auxiliary: in vitro antitumor activity of Cu-Sn2 complex in human neuroblastoma cells

Novel trinuclear complexes C23H31N6O6CuSn2Cl5 [1], C23H31N6O6CuZr2Cl5 [2], C23H31N6O6ZnSn2Cl5 [3], and C23H31N6O6ZnZr2Cl5 [4] were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, 1H, 13C, 2D COSY, and 119Sn NMR, EPR, UV-vis, ESI-MS) and analytical methods. In complexes 1-4, the geometry of copper and zinc metal ions were described as square-based pyramidal with l-tryptophan coordinated to copper/zinc via carboxylate group while Sn/Zr was present in the hexacoordinate environment. The interaction of 1 and 2 with calf thymus DNA in Tris buffer was studied by electronic absorption titration, luminescence titration, cyclic voltammetry, circular dichroism, and viscometric measurements. The emission quenching of these complexes by [Fe(CN)6]4- depressed greatly when bound to DNA. Observed changes in the circular dichoric spectra of DNA in presence of 1 and 2 support the strong binding of complexes with DNA. The relative specific viscosity of DNA bound to 1 and 2 decreased, indicating that the complexes bind to DNA via covalent binding. The results reveal that the extent of DNA binding of 1 was greater than that of 2. To evaluate the mechanistic pathway of DNA inhibition, counting experiments and MTT assay were employed to assess the induction of apoptosis by 1. Western blot analysis of whole cell lysates and mitochondrial fractions with Bcl-2 and p-53 family proteins and caspase-3 colorimetry assay were also carried out on a human neuroblastoma cell line SY5Y.     

Stereoselective recognition of vicinal diamines with a Zn(II) complex

Zn(II) complex of L (N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N'-dimethyl-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) binds chiral vicinal diamines (1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (dpen) and 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (dach)) stereoselectively. Crystallographic studies reveal that the ternary complex has the C2 symmetric cis-alpha topology. 1H NMR shows that the R,R form of the tetradentate zinc complex binds rapidly and reversibly to the R,R form of the diamine over the S,S form with a stereoselectivity of about 5:1. Although the diamine exchange rate is rapid it is slower than the NMR time scale, and distinct signals for the diastereomeric complexes are observed when racemic mixtures of the host and guest molecules are mixed. Origin of stereoselectivity is discussed in terms of steric effects.     

Syntheses of new water-soluble dicobalt complexes having two cobaltcarbon bonds and their ability for DNA cleavage

One-pot syntheses of new water-soluble dicobalt complexes having two cobaltcarbon bonds are reported. The complexes were characterized by ¹H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies as well as ESI-MS. These complexes were photosensitive, and photo-cleavage of the cobaltcarbon bonds upon irradiation with visible light produced methyl radicals which were detected by ESR spin-trapping techniques. The dicobalt complexes exhibited high ability for DNA cleavage in comparison with that for the corresponding monocobalt complex.     

Investigations of preferential solvation on 1,4-dimethoxy-3-methyl anthracene-9,10-dione

Synthesis, spectroscopic and thermal studies of some complexes of a new N(2)-Schiff base ligand of N(1),N(2)-bis((E)-2-methyl-3-phenylallylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine (L) with a general formula of MLX(2) (M = Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II); X = Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), SCN(-) and N(3)(-)) are described. The ligand and its complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, UV-vis spectra, FT-IR spectra, MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectra. The conductivity measurement as well as spectral data indicated that the complexes are non-electrolyte. (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra have been studied in DMSO-d(6) and/or CDCl(3). The thermal behavior of the complexes shows weight loss by decomposition of the anions and ligand segments in the subsequent steps. Activation thermodynamic parameters of decomposition such as E*, ΔH*, ΔS* and ΔG* were calculated from TG curves.     

Efficient double-strand cleavage of DNA mediated by Zn(II)-based artificial nucleases

Two water-soluble zinc complexes, [Zn(L)Cl(2)] (1) and [Zn(2)(L)(2)(μ-C(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(2)]·(ClO(4))(2)·CH(3)OH (2) (L = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)methylamine), were prepared to serve as nuclease mimics. The complexes were characterized by X-ray, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy as well as ESI-MS. The electrospray mass spectrum of 2 in solution indicates that dinuclear ion [Zn(2)(L)(2)(μ-C(2)O(4))(ClO(4))](+) (3) is the active species. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy studies show that the complexes partially intercalate to CT-DNA. In the absence of reducing agent, supercoiled plasmid DNA cleavage by the complexes 1 and 3 was performed and the hydrolytic mechanism was demonstrated by adding standard radical scavengers.     

三齿多吡啶钴(Ⅲ)、钌(Ⅱ)配合物的合成、表征及与DNA的相互作用

合成了两种新型三齿多吡啶钴(Ⅲ) [Co(PhTPY)(H2Bzimpy)]3+(A)和钌(Ⅱ) [Ru(PhTPY)(Bzimpy)](B)混配配合物, 用元素分析和1H NMR等对其结构进行了表征, 测定了配合物B的晶体结构. 用电子吸收光谱和荧光光谱等方法研究了配合物与小牛胸腺DNA的相互作用以及配合物对pBR322DNA的断裂作用. 结果表明, 两种配合物均是通过静电作用与DNA结合的. 凝胶电泳实验结果表明, 配合物A经波长310 nm光辐射15 min, 配合物B经450 nm光辐射4 min, 可使超螺旋pBR322DNA断裂为开环缺口型和线型DNA.     

硫杂蒽酮类稀土配合物的合成、表征及与DNA的作用(I)

合成了新的O-(硫杂蒽酮-[2]-基)-氧乙酸及其稀土配合物. 通过元素分析, IR, ¹H NMR, UV, DTA-TG和¹³C NMR谱对其结构进行了表征. 研究表明: 配体羧羰基脱质子后与金属离子配位, 2位氧原子也与金属离子配位, 配合物中含有一定量的配位水, 配合物为非电解质类型. 同时, 研究了O-(硫杂蒽酮-[2]-基)-氧乙酸稀土配合物对质粒DNA的切割作用. 结果表明: 铕的配合物对DNA的切割较明显, 且当配合物浓度增加时, 质粒DNA的超螺旋构型逐渐减少, 而缺刻、开环型构型逐渐增多. 在相同条件下, Eu(III)离子对质粒pBR322DNA几乎没有切割作用; 配体O-(硫杂蒽酮-[2]-基)-氧乙酸对质粒pBR322DNA也有切割作用, 但配合物EuL₃对质粒pBR322DNA的切割作用明显强于配体, 表明稀土离子Eu(III)与配体生成配合物后有较好的协同切割作用.     

Synthesis of cis-1,2-diol-type chiral ligands and their dioxaborinane derivatives: Application for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various ketones and biological evaluation

Two cis-1,2-diol-type chiral ligands (T ₁ and T ₂ ) and their tri-coordinated chiral dioxaborinane (T _(1–2) B _(1–2) ) and four-coordinated chiral dioxaborinane adducts with 4-tert-butyl pyridine sustained by N → B dative bonds (T _(1–2) B _(1–2) -N) were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹B), FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, LC–MS/MS, and elemental analysis. It was suggested that both ferrocene and trifluoromethyl groups played key roles in the catalytic and biological studies because they could tune the solubility of the chiral dioxaborinane complexes and adjust the strength of intermolecular interactions. To assess the biological activities of newly synthesized chiral dioxaborinane compounds, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging, reducing power, antibacterial, DNA binding, and DNA cleavage activities were tested. Then, all chiral dioxaborinane complexes were investigated as catalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various ketones under suitable conditions. The results indicated that the chiral dioxaborinane catalysts performed well with high yields.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Chiral Schiff Base Complexes with Diiminobinaphthyl or Diiminocyclohexyl Moieties as Potential Enantioselective Epoxidation Catalysts

New chiral Schiff base complexes have been obtained by condensation of 2,2'-diamino-1,1'-binaphthalene or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and various salicylaldehydes and by subsequent metalation with manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, or zinc. The complete (1)H and (13)C NMR characterization of the ligands is reported, as are the X-ray crystal structures of (1R,2R)-(-)-N,N'-bis[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)salicylidene]-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediimine and [(1R,2R)-(-)-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediiminato]copper(II). The new chiral manganese complexes have been evaluated in the oxygenation of prochiral olefins and sulfides using sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, or N-methylmorpholine N-oxide/m-chloroperbenzoic acid as oxidant.     

Synthesis and characterization of Ru(II)-DMSO-Cl-chalcone complexes: DNA binding, nuclease, and topoisomerase II inhibitory activity

The complexes of type cis-[Ru(S-DMSO)(3)(R-CO-CH═CH-R')Cl] (R = 2-hydroxyphenyl for all, R' = phenyl 1, naphthyl 2, anthracenyl 3, thiophene 4, 3-methyl thiophene 5) are synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic (IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR, and UV-vis) and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Their crystal structures show the formation of both intermolecular and intramolecular H-bonding. The molecular assembly of complex 5 using secondary interactions provides a butterfly structure. The binding of complexes with calf thymus DNA is monitored using UV-vis spectral titrations. The binding interaction of complexes 1, 2, and 3 with DNA increases with increasing conjugation of aromatic rings. However, complexes 4 and 5 interact with DNA strongly. The emission from ethidium bromide (EB) bound DNA recorded in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.2) decreases by incremental addition of solution of the complexes. The complexes 4 and 5 (100 μM) bind with the minor groove of DNA and cleave double-stranded pBR322 DNA significantly even in the absence of an activator. In the presence of H(2)O(2), they cleave supercoiled DNA via oxidative pathway even at lower concentration (20 μM). Both complexes 4 and 5 inhibit topoisomerase II activity with IC(50) values of 18 and 13. These values suggest that 4 and 5 are potential topoisomerase II inhibitors as compared to some of known inhibitors like novobiocin and etoposide.     

DNA interaction and cleavage studies of ancillary chiral ligand and N,N‐donor ligands coordinated platinum(II) complexes

Four new platinum(II) complexes [Pt(dpen)(bpy)](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ) , [Pt(dpen)(phen)](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ), [Pt(dpen)(dpq)](ClO₄)₂ ( 3 ) and [Pt(dpen)(dppz)](ClO₄)₂ ( 4 ) comprising of different N,N‐donor ligands, viz., 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy), 1,l0‐phenanthroline (phen), dipyridoquinoxaline (dpq), dipyrido‐[3,2‐d:2¢,3¢‐f –phenazine] (dppz), and chiral ancillary ligand 1R,2R ‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine (dpen) have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of these complexes 1–4 with calf‐thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) has been explored using absorption, circular dichroism spectral and cyclic voltammetric studies. The absorption spectrum of complex 4 with dppz ligand exhibits a major red shift with an overall hypochromic as well as a hyperchromic effect in the presence of DNA, other complexes ( 1 – 3 ) show only hypochromism. From these absorption spectral studies, the intercalative ability of the complexes follows the order as, 4  >  3  >  2  >  1 , which is further confirmed by CD and cyclic voltammetry measurements. CD spectral studies show that DNA becomes more A ‐like upon interaction with the complexes 1 & 2 but the complexes 3 & 4 bring about B ‐form to Z ‐ form DNA conformational transition. The DNA cleavage study of these Pt(II) complexes 1–4 carried out by gel electrophoresis revealed that complexes 1–4 can cleave super coiled (SC) pUC18 DNA efficiently into open circular form (form II) under hydrolytic and oxidative conditions.     

多硫二硫醇烯配合物[Ni(C5S9)2]电磁学性能的研究

多硫 1 ,2 二硫醇烯能与过渡金属离子形成具有特殊平面共轭结构的稳定配合物 ,是构成有机导体或超导体的基本“砖块”[1,2 ] 。配合物的晶体结构研究表明 ,分子之间通过Ｓ…Ｓ原子ｐ轨道的重叠而存在的超分子相互作用是配合物具有高导电性的一个重要特征[3 ] 。增加分子间超分子相互作用的一个有效方法是增加配体上硫原子的个数。我们以Ｃ6Ｓ10 (图 1 )为中间体得到Ｃ5Ｓ2 -9(图2 ) ,与Ｎｉ2 + 离子配位后在四种不同阳离子作用下生成 (Ｃａｔ)2 [Ｎｉ(Ｃ5Ｓ9)2 ]型二价阴离子配合物。当这些配合物用Ｉ2 氧化时都生成了中性配位化合物 [Ｎｉ…     

Polyoxomolybdate promoted hydrolysis of a DNA-model phosphoester studied by NMR and EXAFS spectroscopy

Hydrolysis of (p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (NPP), a commonly used phosphatase model substrate, was examined in molybdate solutions by means of (1)H, (31)P, and (95)Mo NMR spectroscopy and Mo K-edge Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. At 50 °C and pD 5.1 the cleavage of the phosphoester bond in NPP proceeds with a rate constant of 2.73 × 10(-5) s(-1) representing an acceleration of nearly 3 orders of magnitude as compared to the hydrolysis measured in the absence of molybdate. The pD dependence of k(obs) exhibits a bell-shaped profile, with the fastest cleavage observed in solutions where [Mo(7)O(24)](6-) is the major species in solution. Mixing of NPP and [Mo(7)O(24)](6-) resulted in formation of these two intermediate complexes that were detected by (31)P NMR spectroscopy. Complex A was characterized by a (31)P NMR resonance at -4.27 ppm and complex B was characterized by a (31)P NMR resonance at -7.42 ppm. On the basis of the previous results from diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy, performed with the hydrolytically inactive substrate phenylphosphonate (PhP), the structure of these two complexes was deduced to be (NPP)(2)Mo(5)O(21)(4-) (complex A) and (NPP)(2)Mo(12)O(36)(H(2)O)(6)(4-) (complex B). The pH studies point out that both complexes are hydrolytically active and lead to the hydrolysis of phosphoester bond in NPP. The NMR spectra did not show evidence of any paramagnetic species, excluding the possibility of Mo(VI) reduction to Mo(V), and indicating that the cleavage of the phosphomonoester bond is purely hydrolytic. The Mo K-edge XANES region also did not show any sign of Mo(VI) to Mo(V) reduction during the hydrolytic reaction. (95)Mo NMR and Mo K-edge EXAFS spectra measured during different stages of the hydrolytic reaction showed a gradual disappearance of [Mo(7)O(24)](6-) during the hydrolytic reaction and appearance of [P(2)Mo(5)O(23)](6-), which was the final complex observed at the end of hydrolytic reaction.