Single-site hydrogen-bond modulation enhances catalytic ester hydrolysis in a Zn(ii)–TPA scaffold

Abstract

Zinc(II)-dependent metalloenzymes rely heavily on secondary-sphere interactions to modulate reactivity, inspiring the design of biomimetic Zn(II) catalysts that incorporate analogous features. Here, we introduce a hydroxymethyl-functionalized TPA ligand in which the pendant –CH₂OH group acts as a precisely positioned secondary-sphere hydrogen-bond donor that does not bind Zn(II) directly but reshapes the local microenvironment. This modification facilitates hydrogen transfer, stabilizes the transition state, and enhances nucleophilic activation of the Zn-bound water molecule. Structural data support an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding network consistent with this mechanistic role. As a result, the engineered complex exhibits a dramatic rate enhancement—over an order of magnitude faster than the parent Zn(II)–TPA system—demonstrating the powerful catalytic impact of secondary-sphere engineering in artificial metalloenzymes.