Hemerythrin diiron core

The binuclear iron unit consisting of a (p,-oxo(or hydroxo))bis(p.-carboxylato)diiron core is a potential common structural feature of the active sites of hemerythrin, ribonucleotide reductase, and the purple acid phosphatases. Synthetic complexes having such a binuclear core have recently been prepared their characterization has greatly facilitated the comparison of the active sites of the various proteins. The extent of structural analogy among the different forms of the proteins is discussed in light of their spectroscopic and magnetic properties. It is clear that this binuclear core represents yet another stractural motif with the versatility to participate in different protein functions. 

A (/t-oxo)bis(t<-carboxylato)diiron(III) core in a model for met hemerythrin has been prepared by spontaneous self-assembly in aqueous solutions of iron(III) perchlorate, sodium acetate and sodium tri-1 -pyrazolylborate.384 The resulting binuclear complex was shown to be very similar in structure and properties to that of met hemerythrin. Thus, the two Fe111 atoms are linked via a n-oxo... 

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