Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Zinc Complexes with N,S Donor Ligands

Zinc complexes, which are diamagnetic with no unpaired electrons, are sought after for their unique chemical and biological applications as enzyme analogues or bioinspired catalysts and are relevant to several different areas in pathophysiology and bioinorganic chemistry. The inorganic field of complexation has a diverse and important role in biological functions. The binding of oxygen to hemoglobin involves forming coordinate bonds at alveoli of the lungs and breaking them in the tissues, while remaining bound to the heme group during transport [1]. The exact signaling mechanism has not been reported in literature [1]. Alkaline phosphatases are hepatic enzymes distributed widely in mammalian cells [2]. They are zinc centered complexes that are thought to have a role in cell signaling and catalyzation of protein, though their chemistry and functions are not well understood. High mammalian alkaline phosphatase levels have been associated with liver and heart disease, with any physiologic connection remaining not understood [2]. These inorganic functions, of course, require an understanding of the properties of the complex in order to apply them further. The main goal of this short project was to prepare several novel series of zinc complexes and to elucidate their coordination modes, structures, and properties in solution and in solid state