Abstract:(8-Hydroxy-2-quinoly1) methyl (8-hydroxy-2-quinoly1) methyl phosphonate (I) has been synthesized as a model compound and investigated in terms of catalysis of hydrolysis by two metal ions in concert. The divalent metal ions, Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Cu2+ as well as A13+, form only 1: l complexes in which the metal ion is sequestered by coordination with the two 8-hydroxyquinoline moieties of I. In these complexes the'POz-linker points away ...