Biomimetic Zinc Complexes With A New Tripodal Nitrogen-Donor Ligand: Tris[2-(1-methyl-4-tolylimidazolyl)phosphane] (PimMe,pTol)

• Published in: European journal of inorganic chemistry Vol. 2000; no. 7; pp. 1549 - 1555
• Main Authors: Kläui, Wolfgang, Piefer, Claudia, Rheinwald, Gerd, Lang, Heinrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH 01-07-2000; WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH
• Subjects: Bioinorganic chemistry; Carbonic anhydrase; N ligands; Tripodal ligands; Zinc
• ISSN: 1434-1948; 1099-0682
• DOI: 10.1002/1099-0682(200007)2000:7<1549::AID-EJIC1549>3.0.CO;2-#

The new potentially threefold‐chelating ligand tris[2‐(1‐methyl‐4‐tolylimidazolyl)]phosphane (PimMe,pTol) has been prepared. The p‐tolyl substituents on the imidazole rings form a shielded hydrophobic cavity. The first X‐ray‐structure analysis of this ligand system confirms the proposed structure. The reaction of PimMe,pTol with ZnX2 salts (X = Cl, Br, I, NO3) yields monomeric ZnII complexes. The X‐ray crystal structures of [PimMe,pTolZnCl]2(ZnCl4) and [PimMe,pTolZnNO3]NO3 prove that the Zn2+ centres are in a tetrahedral environment with threefold N‐imidazole coordination. This arrangement mimics the active centre of carbonic anhydrase (CA).