The preparation and crystal structure of acetatobis(l-arginine)zinc(II) acetate trihydrate, the first reported X-ray structure of a zinc(II)–arginine complex

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of acetatobis(l-arginine)zinc(II) acetate trihydrate, [Zn(OAc)(l-Arg)2]OAc·3H2O is reported. In this structure, the first of a zinc(II)–arginine complex to be reported, the geometry around zinc(II) is distorted square-pyramidal containing two trans-N,O chelated l-Arg ligands in the basal plane and the acetato ligand in an axial position. The structure contains a second acetate which is salt-bridged to the δ and ω NH groups of the guanidinium side chain of an arginine ligand and also contains three hydrogen bonded water molecules.