Lewis acid properties of zinc(II) in Its cyclen complex. The structure of [Zn(cyclen)(S=C(NH2)2](ClO4)2 and the bonding of thiourea to metal ions. Some implications for zinc metalloenzymes.

The structure of the complex [Zn(cyclen)Tu](NO(3))(2) (1) is reported (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane; Tu = thiourea): orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 11.4170(11) A, b = 12.1995(11) A, c = 12.

Hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate by a (N2S(thiolate))zinc hydroxide complex: a model of the catalytically active intermediate for the zinc form of peptide deformylase.

A novel zinc(II) hydroxide complex with a rare alkylthiolate donor in the coordination sphere is formed in aqueous solution from the dissolution of the zinc alkyl precursor complex (PATH)ZnCH(3) (PATH = 2-methyl-1-[methyl(2-pyridin-2-ylethyl)amino]propane-2-thiolate) in H(2)O and protonolysis of the Zn-C bond to give (PATH)ZnOH (1). The (PATH)ZnOH complex has been shown to promote the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate (4-NA) by a detailed kinetic study and is the first functional model for the zinc form of the enzyme peptide deformylase. From a fit of the sigmoidal pH-rate profile a kinetic pK(a) of 8.