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 x 10(-4) s(-1) at pH 7.5 and 50 degrees 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.