Synthesis of a dinucleating ligand with addressed ion binding sites

A ligand was synthesized that contains two binding sites, differentiated on the basis of size and donor atom. The binding profile for a series of amino acid guests suggest that the two binding sites are 6.5 Å apart. Kinetic studies of hydrolysis of a model phosphodiester substrate by heterodinuclear complexes of the ligand suggest that one metal ion delivers a hydroxide nucleophile and the other increases substrate binding although not in the ideal geometry.