Unprecedented reactivity of alkoxo/hydroxide-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes as artificial carboxylesterase: Effects of Gemini 16-6-16 micelles and bimetallic synergistic effect

One μ-alkoxo/hydroxide-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex (Cu2L) and a mononuclear analogue (CuL) with symmetric Schiff base compound were employed as carboxylesterase models to promote the hydrolysis of a carboxylic acid ester, p-nitrophenyl picolinate (PNPP). Also the introducing of a Gemini surfactant, bis(hexadecyldimethylammonium)hexane bromide (16-6-16, 2Br−), gave interested observations relative to those controlled trials preformed in buffer and a micellar solution of traditional single-chain surfactant, CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide). The results indicated that the dinuclear Cu2L efficiently accelerated PNPP hydrolysis with 18,096- and 49,569.6-fold rate enhancement under moderate conditions (pH 7.00, 25 °C) in buffer and 16-6-16 micellar solution, respectively. Much greater rate enhancement was observed in 16-6-16 micelles in contrast with CTAB micelles, launching 1.6–2.6 folds difference in hydrolysis rate of PNPP at pH 7.00. Additionally, the Cu2L-induced PNPP hydrolysis showed a bell-shaped rate-pH profile, which is an enzyme-like behaviour. Interestingly, rate–pH curves could provide the direct evidence for the interfacial effects of Gemini 16-6-16 micelles on the deprotonation of coordinated water, indicating about 0.2 unit pKa1 difference of the Cu2L-bound H2O between in micellar phase and bulk phase. Cu2L was found to be approximately 199.3- and 288.7-fold reactive than CuL in buffer and 16-6-16 micellar solution, respectively. Significant activity difference between both complexes probably results from the bimetallic coorperation of the two catalytic copper sites and more open binding site of Cu2L.