Dinuclear zinc(II) complex of a new acyclic phenol-based dinucleating ligand with four methoxyethyl chelating arms: first dizinc model with aminopeptidase function

A new end-off type acyclic ligand with four methoxyethyl chelating arms, 2, 6-bis[bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol (Hbomp), formed a dinu clear zinc(II) complex [Zn-2(bomp)(MeCO2)(2)]BPh4 1. X-Ray analysis reveale d that the complex 1 . CHCl3 contains two zinc ions bridged by the phenolic oxygen and two acetate groups, forming a mu-phenoxo-bis(mu-acetato)dizinc( II) core. The aminopeptidase function of complex 1 was estimated using N-p- nitrophenyl-L-leucine as substrate. The release of p-nitroaniline as the re sult of the substrate hydrolysis is first order in both complex and substra te concentrations with k = 2.3(1) x 10(-3) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1).