Biomimetic Manganese Oxidation Catalysis

Biomimetic oxidation catalysis has largely focused on complexes with planar tetradentate ligands such as manganese or iron porphyrins and related macrocyclic trans-chelates[5]. There is considerable interest in the synthesis of multinuclear metal complexes since these molecules might be useful as building block for magnetic molecular materials[6] and model compounds for understanding the properties of metalloproteins[7]. 

In pursuit of biomimetic catalysts, metaUoporphyrins have been extensively studied in attempts to mimic the active site of cytochrome P450, which is an enzyme that catalyzes oxidation reactions in organisms. In recent decades, catalysis of alkene epoxidation with metaUoporphyrins has received considerable attention. It has been found that iron [1-3], manganese [4,5], chromium [6], and cobalt porphyrins can be used as model compounds for the active site of cytochrome P450, and oxidants such as iodosylbenzene, sodium hypochlorite [7,8], hydrogen peroxide [9], and peracetic acid [10] have been shown to work for these systems at ambient temperature and pressure. While researchers have learned a great deal about these catalysts, several practical issues limit their applicability, especially deactivation. 

Bedioui, R, J. Devynck, and C. Bied-Charreton (1996). Electropolymerized manganese porphyrin films as catalytic electrode materials for biomimetic oxidations with molecular oxygen. J. Mol. Catalysis 113, 3-11. 

His research interests include catalysis by cobalt, iron and manganese, complexes (biomimetic dioxygen activation, catalytic oxidation and carbonylation), as well as kinetics and mechanisms of inorganic reactions in solution (fast redox and electron transfer). 

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