Catalysis of Phosphodiester Transesterification by Cu(II)-Terpyridine Complexes with Peripheral Pendent Base Groups: Implications for the Mechanism

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(96)02519-1

In this paper we show that in phosphodiester transesterification catalyzed by copper(II)-terpyridine complexes both the metal-bound hydroxyl group and the peripheral pendent tertiary amino groups can provide general base catalysis.At neutral pH the pendent amino groups dominate the process because the metal-bound hydroxyl group is protonated.However, the metal-bound hydroxyl group is more effective at high pH, probably due to its higher basicity and/or closer location to the bound substrate.