O–H Bond elongation in co-ordinated water through intramolecular P=O...H–O bonding. Snap-Tshots in phosphate ester hydrolysis

Molecular structure of [Cu(dtbp)2(phen)(OH2)](dtbp-H = di-tert-butylphosphate, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), determined at 293, 203 and 93 K, provides useful snap-shots of O–H bond activation of a metal-bound water, which is aided by an intramolecular P=O...H–O hydrogen bonding interaction.