Abstract
A dinuclear zinc(II) complex with the ligand bis{tris[2-(1-methylbenzimidazole-2-yl)ethyl]-methylamine}nitrilotriacetic acid sodium salt, L, was synthesized and characterized. Complex formation of L with Zn2+ in aqueous acetone was studied by Zn2+ titration using H-1 NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies. Analysis of the titration data indicates the formation of a dizinc complex. The nu(as)(COO-) and nu(s)(COO-) stretches were observed at 1572 and 1450 cm(-1), respectively. The low separation of the stretches, Delta(exp) = 115 cm(-1), is an indication of chelating coordination of the carboxylate group between the two zinc(II) ions. The catalytic activity of [LZn2](3+) 1, as a model for phosphatase that catalyze chemical transformation of phosphate ester, in the hydrolysis of the RNA model, 2-hydroxypropyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, was examined in aqueous acetone buffer solution, pH 7.0-9.5. The mechanism of the catalytic hydrolysis suggests that the rate of acceleration is due to what is called double Lewis acid activation.