Aminoacid-derivatized oxidovanadium complexes: Synthesis, structure and bromination reaction activity

► In order to mimicking the active center of the VHPOs, we designed and synthesized a series of oxovanadium complexes containing aminoacid-derivatized ligands and characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction. ► Based on the visible conversion of phenol red to bromophenol blue under weak-acid conditions, we investigated the role of the oxovanadium complexes in the bromide oxidation reaction. ► It is found that the oxovanadium (IV) complexes can be considered as potential functional model of vanadium-dependent haloperoxidases.