A structural model for the active site of phosphoesterases, enzymes that degrade organophosphate neurotoxins, has been synthesised. The ligand 2-((2-hydroxy-3-(((2-hydroxyethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-5-methylbenzyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)acetic acid (H(3)L1) and two Zn(ii) complexes have been prepared and characterised as and The ligand (H(3)L1) and complex were characterised through (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, mass spectroscopy and microanalysis. The X-ray crystal structure of revealed a tetramer of dinuclear complexes, bridged by two phosphate molecules and bifurcating acetic acid arms. Functional studies of the zinc complex with the substrate bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (bNPP) determined the complex with HL1(2-) to be a competent catalyst with k(cat) = 1.26 0.06 x 10(-6) s(-1).