Phosphatase reactivity of a dicopper(ii) complex of a patellamide derivative – possible biological functions of cyclic pseudopeptides

A possible biological function of cyclic pseudo-octapeptides is presented. The dinuclear copper(II) complex of a synthetic analogue ([Cu(2)(H(2)Pat(1))(μ-OH)(OH(2))(2)]) of the naturally occurring ascidiacyclamide is known to have a hydroxo-bridged dicopper(II) site which is able to catalytically transform CO(2) into CO(3)(2-). This complex is shown here to function as a phosphatase mimic, suggesting that the so far unknown biological function of these macrocycles within the ascidians may involve phosphoester hydrolysis.