The β-lactamase activity of two previously reported dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes is described. The two complexes, [Co 2 (CO 2 EtH 2 L1)(CH 3 COO) 2 ](PF 6 ) (CO 2 EtH 3 L1 = ethyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-bis{[(2-hydroxyethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}benzoate) and [Co 2 (CO 2 EtL2)(CH 3 COO) 2 ]-(PF 6 ) (CO 2 EtHL2 = ethyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-bis{[(2-methoxyethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}benzoate), differ in that the latter has methyl ether donors in contrast to potentially nucleophilic alkoxide donors in the former. They thus offer a direct comparison of potential ligand-centered nucleophiles. The complexes were treated with the antibiotic penicillin G and the commonly used lactamase substrate nitrocefin. On the basis of mass spectrometry, UV/Vis, and infrared spectroscopy measurements in solution, it was shown that only [Co 2 (CO 2 EtH 2 L1)(CH 3 COO) 2 ](PF 6 ) was capable of hydrolyzing both penicillin and nitrocefin, and that the hydrolysis-initiating nucleophile was an alkoxide donor. Analysis of kinetic data showed that nitrocefin binding occurs more [a]