A new Schiff base, 2-hydroxy-1-napthaldehyde-2-aminothiazole (HNATS) and its Cu(Ⅱ) complex were synthesized. The complex [Cu(Ⅱ)-(HNATS) ~2] exhibits efficient peroxidase-like catalytic activity, and catalyzes the coupling reaction of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-amino antipyrine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The effect of β-CD on the catalytic activity of the mimetic enzyme was studied. The reaction mechanism, optimal reaction conditions and effects of coexisting substances were also investigated. Based on the reaction, the determination of (O~2^-^.) by this new spectrophotometric method was developed with a linear range of 0～5.0×10^-^4 mol/L and detection limit of 5.0×10^-^6 mol/L. The proposed method was used to determine superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity with satisfactory results.

Key words: SCHIFF BASE, COPPER COMPLEX, CYCLODEXTRIN, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE, MODELS OF ENZYME, SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, THIAZOLE P, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, ANTIPYRINU, PHENOL P