The Cu(II) acetate complex of the heteroscorpionate ligand (2-hydroxy-3-t-butyl-methylphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane: a structural model for copper-substituted serralysin and astacin

Reaction of Cu(II) acetate with the deprotonated ligand (2-hydroxy-3-t-butyl-methylphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (L1O(-)) in methanol produced the complexes (L1O)Cu(OAc)], a=9.275(2), b=11.641(5), c=13.532(3) A, alpha=69.62(1) degrees, beta=89.49(2) degrees, gamma=87.12(1) degrees, P1. The Cu adopts a distorted five-coordinate geometry where the two pyrazole nitrogen ligands and a bidentate acetate occupy the pseudoequatorial plane with the phenoxy oxygen in an apical position. This complex has a number of features in common with galactose oxidase and the copper-substituted endopeptidases serralysin and astacin.