The potential metal binding sites of L-carnosine (b-alanyl-Lhistidine) with respect to vanadium has been investigated. Two novel oxovanadium complexes containing the dideprotonated Lcarnosine anion were isolated having the compositionThe dideprotonated L-carnosine coordinates to vanadium in both the complexes through the three donor atoms, namely the oxygen atom of the carboxylate group and two nitrogen (one each from the primary amine and the other from the amide group of the ligand). The imidazole moiety of L-carnosine undergoes a tautomeric change from N(3)-H to N(1)-H in the complex NH 4 [VO 2 L] . 2H 2 O. The nitrogen donor atom of the imidazole moiety coordinates to vanadium through N(3).

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