An europium(III) hydrolytic catalyst favoring anionic phosphate esters over phosphate triester

Abstract

A Cryptate (221) having a short alcohol pendant (2) was metallated with europium(III) in anhydrous condition, and its hydrolytic activity for phosphate esters at neutral pH was examined. While the activity for the phosphate diester and monoester is comparable to that of the parent metal complex [1Eu](3+), its hydrolytic activity towards a phosphate triester is significantly suppressed. Potentiometric titration and luminescence spectroscopic studies for the equilibrium behavior of the complex in solution suggest that a dimer formation through the metal hydroxides as well as the pendant alcohol is likely to happen. The low hydrolytic activity for the triester seems to be associated with the dimer formation.