Hydrolysis of 4-Nitrophenyl Acetate by a (N2S(thiolate))zinc Hydroxide Complex: A Model of the Catalytically Active Intermediate for the Zinc Form of Peptide Deformylase

A novel zinc(II) hydroxide complex with a rare alkylthiolate donor in the coordination sphere is formed in aqueous solution from the dissolution of the zinc alkyl precursor complex (PATH)ZnCH3 (PATH = 2-methyl-1-[methyl(2-pyridin-2-ylethyl)amino]propane-2-thiolate) in H2O and protonolysis of the Zn-C bond to give (PATH)ZnOH (1). The (PATH)ZnOH complex has been shown to promote the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate (4-NA) by a detailed kinetic study and is the first functional model for the zinc form of the enzyme peptide deformylase.