Synthesis and Characterization of tris(hydroxybenzylaminoethyl)amine-based Zinc(II), Copper(II), and Cobalt(II) Complexes-containing Bound Benzenethiol: Their Applications Toward Methylation Reactions

Three transition metal-bound thiolate complexes [LZn-SC6H5]+ 1, [LCu-SC6H5]+ 2, and [LCo-SC6H5]+ 3, derived from the tetradentate ligand N,N ,N-tris(p-hydroxybenzylaminoethyl)amine, L were synthesized and characterized as functional models for the active site of thiolate alkylating enzyme. Solid state studies of these model complexes were investigated using infrared spectroscopy and both thermal and elemental analyses. The methylation reactions of these thiolate complexes were found to be the fastest at high concentrations of CH3I in the sequence of 3 2 1. These obtained results showed that there are significant increases in the rate of methylation of the thiolate complexes with cobalt(II) metal ion than other metal ions, due to its high electrophilicity. Where it can activate the thiolate nucleophile most effectively than other metal ions. Zinc(II) is the opposite and has the lowest methylation reactions