Mixed-ligand complexes of zinc(II), cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) with sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen ligands. Analysis of the solid state structure and solution behavior. Implications for metal ion substitution in alcohol dehydrogenase

In this paper we characterize new, mixed ligand complexes of zinc(II), cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) with tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolate and 2-(2′-hydroxyethyl)pyridine ligands. Due to the chelating versus non-chelating behavior of 2-(2′-hydroxyethyl)pyridine ligand we have obtained an interesting structural variety in the studied system. The presented coordination patterns together with the results of NMR studies have been used to illustrate a rapid chemical exchange undergoing in methanolic solutions of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes. UV-Vis spectra of cobalt(II) species have also evidenced an exchange in the case of cobalt(II) complex. The relative strength of hydrogen bond formed by hydroxyl group bonded to Zn(II), Co(II) or Cd(II) was evaluated by analysis of structural parameters and position of the OH stretching vibrations in the FT-IR spectra of the complexes in solid state. The data were compared with the activity of zinc (native) alcohol dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase substituted with cobalt and cadmium ions. The enthalpies of proton abstraction in zinc and cobalt complexes were calculated and found to be very similar. The attempt to apply zinc tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolate as a catalyst in the biomimetic reaction of reduction of N-benzylnicotinamide chloride by ethanol was unsuccessful.