The mononuclear zinc complex [(bpta) Zn](ClO4) 2· 0.5 H2O (1) promotes the hydrolysis of the thioester PhCH (OH) C (O) SCD3 in CH3CN: H2O (50: 50; buffered at pH 9.0). This reaction gives mandelate, CD3SH, and a zinc thiolate complex as products, with the ratio of the sulfur-containing species depending on the metal complex concentration. Kinetic studies (via 2H NMR) indicate a rate-determining step that is second order overall. The activation ...
