Carboxylate- and phosphodiester-bridged dinuclear magnesium(II) complexes

Three carboxylate- and phosphodiester-bridged dimagnesium(II) complexes are prepared which contain the dinucleating ligand XDK where H2XDK is m-xylenediamine bis(Kemp's triacid imide) and can model enzyme active sites for phosphate ester hydrolysis. The complex Mg2(XDK)(CH3OH)4(H2O)2(NO3) (NO3) has a carboxylate-bridged dinuclear magnesium(II) center. In Mg2(XDK)(DPP)(CH3OH)3(H2O)(NO3).3CH3OH where HDPP is diphenyl phosphate, both bridging and terminal diphenyl phosphate ligands are present.