Abstract

Novel applications of bioinorganic chemistry

Author(s): Jeanette Savio

catalysis is a more recent branch of Catalysis in which the catalyst and the process originate from the biological sciences and deals with enzymes. The research programs in Inorganic chemistry, Biochemistry and Catalysis have only recently met one another, and the results are very exciting. In many Biocatalytical systems, the metal plays an important role at the active site and usually the reaction intermediates reside on the metal ion in the enzyme. Bioinorganic catalysis deals with the processes performed with the aid of metalloenzymes, modified enzymes and synthetic metal containing molecules resembling the active sites of metalloproteins. Biomimetic oxidation catalysis aims at achieving the efficiencies and selectivity of Enzymes, such as monooxygenases and peroxidases, with lower molecular weight compoundsThe design of biomimetic oxidation catalyst is based on the active-site structure and function of oxidation enzymes. For the sake of atom economy and sustainability ,terminal oxidants such as molecular oxygen or dihydrogen peroxide are employed preferentially. It is an intrinsic feature of biomimetic oxidation catalysts that they aim at initiating soluble enzymes, which means that they are generally homogeneous in nature. The majority of the homogeneous and biomimetic oxidation catalysts being investigated to date fall into two classes: 1. Metal-ligand (peptidic or non peptidic combinations, 2) Metal – free organic catalysts Biomimetic Oxidation Catalysts based on metal complexes find application in A] Asymmetric epoxidation of Olefins B] Asymmetric Sulfoxidation of Thioethers C] Baeyer- Veliger Oxidation of ketones D[ Air oxidation of Alcohols