Abstract
Two nickel(II) and copper(II) macrocyclic complexes were synthesised and characterised, and metallomicelles comprising the complex and a surfactant, as a mimic hydrolytic metalloenzyme, were used in the catalytic hydrolysis of a carboxylic ester, p-nitrophenyl picolinate (PNPP). Analysis of absorption spectra of the hydrolytic reaction systems indicates that a key intermediate, comprising PNPP and the nickel(II) or copper(II) complexes, is formed in the reaction. Based on these spectral observations, a mechanism of PNPP catalytic hydrolysis has been proposed; a kinetic mathematical model, applied to calculation of the associated kinetic parameters has been established. The effects of acidity, the structure effect of the complexes and of the presence of micelles on the rate of the hydrolysis are also discussed.