Catalytic hydrolysis of carboxylic acid esters by Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes containing a tetracoordinate macrocyclic Schiff base ligand in Brij35 micellar solution
The macrocyclic Schiff base complexes of Cu(II) and Zn(II) in Brij35 micellar solution are investigated kinetically for the catalytic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA) and p-nitrophenyl picolinate (PNPP) at 30°C. The results indicate that different mechanisms are operative for the two complexes in the hydrolysis of PNPA and PNPP. The Cu(II) complex can only catalyze the hydrolysis of PNPP by the mechanism which involves the nucleophilic attack of external hydroxide ion on the carbonyl, while the Zn(II) complex can accelerate the hydrolysis of both PNPP and PNPA, by way of the intr...
