Catalytic Mechanism and Activity of a Nitrogen Heterocycle Lanthanum(III) Complex in the Hydrolysis of bis(4-nitrophenyl) Phosphate Ester

Catalytic Capacity of Diaza-Crown Ether Lanthanum Complexes with Varied Ligands for Phosphate Ester Hydrolysis in Different Media

Two diaza-crown ether compounds, 1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane (L0) and its derivative with double acetamide side arms 2,2'-(1,4,10,13-teteaoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane-7,16-diyl)diacetamide (L), and the corresponding two lanthanum complexes were synthesised and characterised. The catalytic capacity of the lanthanum complexes was investigated for the hydrolysis of bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate ester (BNPP) in aqueous solution and in CTAB micelles. Kinetic studies show that the catalytic efficiency of complex LaL is obviously higher than that of complex LaL0, and introducing acetamide into the ring of the diaza-crown ether can improve the catalytic ability of the complexes for BNPP hydrolysis. A rate enhancement of about two times was observed for the complex–micelle in contrast with the complex–water system for BNPP catalytic hydrolysis. The optimal pH for the catalytic reaction in the two kinds of media systems show an approximately 0.4 pH unit difference. The two complexes possess higher thermostability, and are more stable in the micelle than in aqueous solution. Based on the results and their analysis, a catalytic mechanism with cooperation of acetamide is proposed.

An Anionic Surfactant Metallomicelle: Catalytic Activity and Mechanism for the Catalytic Hydrolysis of a Phosphate Ester

An aza-crown ether ligand was synthesised and characterised. The chemical composition of the binary complex containing cerium(III) and the ligand was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. A new metallomicellar system comprising the cerium(III) complex of the ligand and an anionic micelle (n-lauroylsarcosine) was used as catalyst in the hydrolysis of bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate ester (BNPP). The catalytic rate of BNPP hydrolysis and the local concentration effect of the micelle were measured kinetically using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The results indicated, that compared with a cationic metallomicelle system made from the aza-crown ether, lanthanum(III) ion and CTAB cationic surfactant in our previous report, the anionic metallomicelle exhibited a six-fold higher catalytic activity in BNPP hydrolysis at neutral pH and the same other conditions, thus the micelle based on LSS provides a more effective catalytic environment for reaction. A reaction mechanism has been proposed.