Self‐Assembled Multivalent Ag‐SR Coordination Polymers with Phosphatase‐Like Activity

We show herein the phosphatase‐like catalytic activity of coordination polymers obtained after adding Ag+‐ions to thiols bearing hydrophobic alkyl chains terminated with a 1,4,7‐triazacyclononane (TACN) group. The subsequent addition of Zn2+ ‐ions to the self‐assembled polymers resulted in the formation of multivalent metal coordination polymers capable of catalysing the transphosphorylation of an RNA‐model compound (2‐hydroxypropyl‐4‐nitrophenyl phosphate, HPNPP) with high reactivity. Analysis of a series of metal ions showed that the highest catalytic activity was obtained when Ag+‐ions were used as the first metal ions to construct the backbone of the coordination polymer through interaction with the ‐SH group followed by Zn2+‐ions as the second metal ions complexed by the TACN‐macrocycle. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the catalytic activity could be modulated by changing the length of the hydrophobic alkyl chain. A series of self‐assembled multivalent Ag‐SR coordination polymers with high phosphatase‐like activity have been developed. This work represents a new alternative for the future rational design of highly efficient catalysts for hydrolysis of phosphates and carboxylates.