A series of oxoperoxovanadium(V) complexes (ligands : H(3)nta = nitrilotriacetic acid, H(3)heida = N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid, H(2)ada = N-(2-amidomethyl)iminodiacetic acid, Hbpg = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)glycine, and tpa = N,N,N-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) were characterized as functional models for the vanadium haloperoxidase enzymes. The crystal structures of K[VO(O-2)Hheida], K[VO(O-2)ada], [VO(O-2)bpg], and H[VO(O-2)bpg](2)(ClO4) were obtained. These complexes all possess a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination sphere containing a side-on bound peroxide. In the presence of sufficient acid equivalents these complexes catalyze the two-electron oxidation of bromide or iodide by peroxide. Halogenation of an organic substrate was demonstrated by following the visible conversion of Phenol Red to Bromophenol Blue. In the absence of substrate, dioxygen can be generated by the halide-assisted disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide. In addition, some of these complexes can efficiently catalyze the peroxidative halogenation reaction, performing multiple turnovers in minutes. The kinetic analysis of the halide oxidation reaction indicates a mechanism which is first order in protonated peroxovanadium complex and halide. The bimolecular rate constants for both bromide and iodide oxidation were determined, with the iodide rates being approximately 5-6 times faster than the bromide rates. The rate constants obtained for bromide oxidation range from a maximum of 280 M(-1) s(-1) for the Hheida complex to a minimum of 21 M(-1) s(-1) for the Hbpg complex. The pK(a) of activation for each complex in acetonitrile was determined to range from 5.4 to 6.0. On the basis of the chemistry observed for these model compounds, a mechanism of halide oxidation and a detailed catalytic cycle are proposed for the vanadium haloperoxidase enzyme.