Cytochrome metalloporphyrin model systems

Metalloporphyrins have been used for epoxidation and hydroxylation [5.53] and a phosphine-rhodium complex for isomerization and hydrogenation [5.54]. Cytochrome P-450 model systems are represented by a porphyrin-bridged cyclophane [5.55a], macrobicyclic transition metal cyclidenes [5.55b] or /3-cyclodextrin-linked porphyrin complexes [5.55c] that may bind substrates and perform oxygenation reactions on them. A cyclodextrin connected to a coenzyme B12 unit forms a potential enzyme-coenzyme mimic [5.56]. Recognition directed, specific DNA cleavage... 

This leads us finally to a brief discussion of our recent work on metalloproteins, and their model systems, metalloporphyrins. Here, the basic longterm objectives are to obtain a better understanding of how CO and 02, and their isoelectronic counterparts the isocyanides (RNC) and nitrosoalkanes/nitrosoarenes (RNO), bind to Fe, as well as to probe the structure of cytochrome c, a small protein involved not only in electron-transfer, but in apoptosis, or programmed cell death (44). 

Figure 12 Examples of metalloporphyrins used in model systems of cytochrome P-450. TPP, fMeso-tetraphenyIporphyri n TDCPP, /wesotetrakis-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) porphyrin TDCPCl8P, /weiotetrakis-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-P-octachloroporphyrin.

The observation that cytochrome P 450 can be driven by hydroperoxides and related oxygen donors suggests that metalloporphyrins can be made to function as oxygen-transfer catalysts in simple model systems. 

The use of a synthetic model system has provided valuable mechanistic insights into the molecular catalytic mechanism of P-450. Groves et al. [34]. were the first to report cytochrome P-450-type activity in a model system comprising iron meso-tetraphenylporphyrin chloride [(TPP)FeCl] and iodosylbenzene (PhIO) as an oxidant which can oxidize the Fe porphyrin directly to [(TPP)Fe =0] + in a shunt pathway. Thus, (TPP)FeCl and other metalloporphyrins can catalyze the monooxygenation of a variety of substrates by PhIO [35-40], hypochlorite salts [41, 42], p-cyano-A, A -dimethylanihne A -oxide [43-46], percarboxylic acids [47-50] and hydroperoxides [51, 52]. Catalytic activity was, however, rapidly reduced because of the destruction of the metalloporphyrin during the catalytic cycle [34-52]. When (TPP)FeCl was immobilized on the surface of silica or silica-alumina, catalytic reactivity and catalytic lifetime both increased significantly [53]. There have been several reports of supported catalysts based on such metalloporphyrins adsorbed or covalently bound to polymers [54-56]. Catalyst lifetime was also significantly improved by use of iron porphyrins such as mew-tetramesitylporphyrin chloride [(TMP)FeCl] and iron mcA o-tetrakis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)por-phyrin chloride [(TPFPP)FeCl], which resist oxidative destruction, because of steric and electronic effects and thereby act as efficient catalysts of P-450 type reactions [57-65]. 

Synthetic metalloporphyrins have received a lot of recent attention as mimics of numerous enzymes. In addition, 10 models have been developed for peroxidases and particularly, ligninases. Metalloporphyrins have also found utility as model systems for studies of the oxidative metabolism of drugs.A detailed study of the metabolism of lidocaine has been reported, as have preliminary studies on the use of metalloporphyrins as chemical mimics of cytochrome P450 systems (Scheme 29.24). ... 

Many chemical model systems based on metalloporphyrin catalysts and mimicking cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases have been described during these last decade. Several review articles have been devoted to these systems 2-10. in that context, very recent results about the preparation and catalytic properties of new homogeneous and supported catalysts will be described in a first chapter. In the second chapter, some preliminary results showing that the oxidation of alkanes by a dioxygenase-like mechanism could occur in the presence of iron porphyrin catalysts activated either photochemically or thermally, will be reported. 

The observation that iron porphyrins can catalyze, under mild conditions, epoxidations of alkenes when iodosylbenzene is used as the oxidant has been followed up by a number of studies on metallopor-phyrins as models for cytochrome P-4S0 enzymes. Cytochrome P-4S0 enzymes catalyze epoxidation of alkenes by molecular oxygen in the presence of a hydrogen donor, NAOPH cofactor. This has led to the study of a number of systems based on a metalloporphyrin/02/reducing agent, to bring about epoxidation of alkenes. 

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