Catalytic hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters by lanthanide(III) cryptate (2.2.1) complexes

Abstract

The hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate is catalysed by lanthanide(III)(2.2.1) complexes, and kinetic studies reveal that the europium(III)(2.2.1) chloride (c= 4.0 mmol dm^–3) hydrolyses the phosphate monoester at an enhanced rate (k_p1= 1.7 × 10^–4 s^–1 at pH 7.5 and 50 °C), with a turnover number of 4; the pH dependence of the rate constants is well correlated with the concentration of the lanthanide (2.2.1) hydroxides.