Synthesis and studies of Schiff base complexes with aza-crown ether or morpholino pendants as synthetic hydrolases for p-nitrophenyl picolinate

Three symmetrical bis-Schiff bases with either benzo-10-aza-crown ether or morpholino pendants and their Mn(III) and Co(II) complexes have been synthesized and employed as models for hydrolase enzymes by studying the kinetics of their hydrolysis reactions with p-nitrophenyl picolinate (PNPP). A kinetic model of PNPP cleavage catalyzed by these complexes is proposed. The effects of complex structures and reaction temperature on the rate of PNPP hydrolysis have been examined. All four complexes exhibit high catalytic activity and the rate increases with pH. The complexes of ligands containing a crown ether group exhibit higher catalytic activities than the non-crown analogs, and the catalytic activity of the phenyl-bridged Schiff base complex is larger than that of ethyl-bridged analogue for the same substituents and metal.