Bioinorganic Reaction Mechanisms: From High-Valent Iron to Bioorganometallic Chemistry

SLEP, L. D.; NEESE, F.

ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE

Wiley - VCH

Año: 2003 vol. 42 p. 2942 - 2945

0570-0833

A large number of enzymes contain transition-metal ions in their active center. Such enzymes efficiently catalyze a wide range of chemical reactions including those that involve activation of small molecules in a selective way and under extremely mild conditions. Unraveling the underlying structural and electronic features of these fascinating reactions is at the heart of bioinorganic chemistry. The past few years have witnessed significant progress in our understanding of many of these reactions as a result of detailed structural and spectroscopic studies as well as advanced theoretical techniques and kinetic analysis. The preparation of low-molecular-weight model complexes, although often synthetically challenging, is important to help understanding the features of a metalloprotein that are essential to its function. Moreover, the model studies  ay provide a chemical precedent for a hitherto unknown chemical species or postulated reaction intermediate.large number of enzymes contain transition-metal ions in their active center. Such enzymes efficiently catalyze a wide range of chemical reactions including those that involve activation of small molecules in a selective way and under extremely mild conditions. Unraveling the underlying structural and electronic features of these fascinating reactions is at the heart of bioinorganic chemistry. The past few years have witnessed significant progress in our understanding of many of these reactions as a result of detailed structural and spectroscopic studies as well as advanced theoretical techniques and kinetic analysis. The preparation of low-molecular-weight model complexes, although often synthetically challenging, is important to help understanding the features of a metalloprotein that are essential to its function. Moreover, the model studies  ay provide a chemical precedent for a hitherto unknown chemical species or postulated reaction intermediate.