Studies on BNPP Cleavage by Schiff Base Complexes Containing Benzoaza‐15‐Crown‐5 in DHAB Micellar Solution

Two novel benzoaza‐crown Schiff base cobalt (II) and manganese (III) complexes were synthesized and characterized. The hydrolysis of bis(4‐nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) catalyzed by the two complexes was studied in buffer solution containing dihexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DHAB) at 25°±0.1°C and different pH values. The kinetic mathematical model of BNPP hydrolysis was proposed, and the effects of different reaction conditions on BNPP hydrolysis were discussed. The results indicate that the two complexes (MnLCl and CoL) can efficiently accelerate the catalytic cleavage of BNPP in DHAB micellar solution. The pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k _obsd) of BNPP hydrolysis catalyzed by the metallomicelles of MnLCl/DHAB and CoL/DHAB are 2.32×10⁷ times and 1.45×10⁷ times higher than that of the BNPP spontaneous hydrolysis, respectively. Possible reasons for the huge rate accelerations include the lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) of DHAB and formation of metallomicelles made of complexes and DHAB. Furthermore, the BNPP cleavage catalyzed only by the two complexes was investigated in buffer solution. It was found that the hydrolytic rates of BNPP catalyzed only by the two complexes were about 1% of those catalyzed by MnLCl/DHAB and CoL/DHAB systems at 25°C, pH=7.00, and [BNPP]=2.0×10⁻⁴ mol · dm⁻³.

Keywords:

• Metallomicelle
• phosphate diester
• dihexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DHAB)
• hydrolytic mechanism
• benzoaza‐crown Schiff base complexes

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from China National Natural Science Foundation (No. 20072025, 20173038) and Key Project of China Sichuan Education Office (No. 2005D007).