Use of ligand design to provide coordination asymmetry in a binuclear metalloprotein model system: Ligand synthesis, coordination chemistry with copper, and demonstration of site-directed reactivity

The synthesis and coordination chemistry of a new asymmetric multidentate ligand designed for modeling coordination number asymmetry at metal sites in binuclear metalloproteins are described. A binuclear copper complex of this ligand demonstrates proof-of-concept for inducing coordinative unsaturation at one metal of the binuclear pair, and subsequent reaction with azide illustrates site-directed reactivity.