Assembly of unusual Zn-cluster compounds based on pyridinealcohol platforms

The assembly formation of Zn cluster compounds comprising pyridinealcohol ligands is described and their solution and solid state features have been determined using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The di-Zn complex 5 and tetra-Zn complex 7 may serve as accessible structural models for the active site of various multinuclear Zn-containing metalloenzymes. Their phosphoester cleavage activity was tested and correlated with their dynamic structural features.