A structural and catalytic model for zinc phosphoesterases.

A structural model for the active site of phosphoesterases, enzymes that degrade organophosphate neurotoxins, has been synthesised. The ligand [2-((2-hydroxy-3-(((2-hydroxyethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-5-methylbenzyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)acetic acid] (H(3)L1) and two Zn(ii) complexes have been prepared and characterised as [Zn(2)(HL1)(CH(3)COO)](PF(6)).H(2)O and Li[Zn(2)(HL1)](4)(PO(4))(2)(PF(6))(3).