Oxidation reactions enzyme catalysis

Enzyme-mediated oxidation reactions offer highly diverse options for the modification of existing functional groups as well as for the introduction of novel function in chiral catalysis. Biooxidations often enable us to obtain complementary solutions to metal-assisted transformations and organocatalysis and are considered one of the important strategies of green chemistry . 

If homolysis of the Co—C-bond occurs, then it is expected that a Co(II) ESR signal should appear during enzyme catalysis. Unfortunately, it is possible that a Co(II)-signal could arise from some other side-reaction such as photolysis or oxidation of Co(I) to Co(II). However, it is of interest to determine whether a Co(II)-signal appears during catalysis. 

The third remarkable aspect of enzyme catalysis is the versatility of these species. They catalyze an extremely wide variety of reactions— oxidation, reduction, polymerization, dehydration, dehydrogenation, etc. Their versatility is a reflection of the range and complexity of the chemical reactions necessary to sustain life in plants and animals. 

We need to develop methods to understand trends for complex reactions with many reaction steps. This should preferentially be done by developing models to understand trends, since it will be extremely difficult to perform experiments or DFT calculations for all systems of interest. Many catalysts are not metallic, and we need to develop the concepts that have allowed us to understand and develop models for trends in reactions on transition metal surfaces to other classes of surfaces oxides, carbides, nitrides, and sulfides. It would also be extremely interesting to develop the concepts that would allow us to understand the relationships between heterogeneous catalysis and homogeneous catalysis or enzyme catalysis. Finally, the theoretical methods need further development. The level of accuracy is now so that we can describe some trends in reactivity for transition metals, but a higher accuracy is needed to describe the finer details including possibly catalyst selectivity. The reliable description of some oxides and other insulators may also not be possible unless the theoretical methods to treat exchange and correlation effects are further improved. 

The possible role of oxygen atom transfer in molybdenum enzyme catalysis was recognized in the early 1970s (190-194). In the ensuing years, a wealth of chemistry has established molybdenum as the premier exponent of such reactions (7, 195). Importantly, related dioxo-Mo(VI) and oxo-Mo(IV) complexes are interconverted by oxygen atom transfer reactions (Eq. (13)). These reactions are effected by reductants (X) such as tertiary alkyl and aryl compounds of the group 15 elements (especially phosphines) and oxidants (XO) such as S- and N-oxides. In many cases, however, the Mo(VI) and Mo(IV) compounds participate in a comproportionation reaction yielding dinuclear Mo(V) complexes (Eq. (15)). 

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. 

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