The
Zr-containing polyoxometalates (POMs), including (Et2NH2)8{[α-PW11O39Zr(μ–OH)(H2O)]2}·7H2O (1), effectively
catalyze the hydrolysis of nerve
agent simulants at near-neutral pH. Analogous Zr-containing heterogeneous
systems are much-studied and effective nerve-agent hydrolysis catalysts,
but due to their heterogeneous nature, it is very challenging to know
the exact structure of the catalytic sites during turnover and to
clarify at the molecular level the elementary mechanistic processes.
Here, under homogeneous conditions, hydrolysis rates of the nerve-agent
simulant methyl paraoxon catalyzed by 1 are examined
as a function of pH, ionic strength, catalyst, and substrate concentrations.
In addition, the specific effect of three commonly used buffers is
examined, revealing that acetate functions as a co-catalyst, phosphate
inhibits hydrolytic activity, and 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic
acid (MES) has no effect on the hydrolysis rate. Spectroscopic (31P nuclear magnetic resonance) and computational studies demonstrate
how each of these buffers interacts with the catalyst and offer explanations
of their impacts on the hydrolysis rates. The impact of the nerve-agent
hydrolysis product, methyl phosphonic acid, is also examined, and
it is shown to inhibit hydrolysis. These results will aid in the design
of future Zr-based hydrolysis catalysts.