Metallomicellar catalysis: Hydrolysis of phosphate monoester by Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes of pyridyl ligands in CTAB micellar solution

The hydrolysis of (p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (NPP) catalyzed by the Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes of lipophilic pyridine-containing alkanol ligands were investigated in the presence of an inert surfactant (CTAB). The experimental results indicate that 2:1 ligand:metal ion complexes in CTAB micellar solution are the active species for the catalytic hydrolysis of NPP. The ternary complex kinetic model for metallomicellar catalysis was employed to treat with the results, so as to obtain the relative kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The results predicted the reasonability of such kinetic models.