Porphyrins biology

Chemical and biological sensors (qv) are important appHcations of LB films. In field-effect devices, the tunneling current is a function of the dielectric constant of the organic film (85—90). For example, NO2, an electron acceptor, has been detected by a phthalocyanine (or a porphyrin) LB film. The mechanism of the reaction is a partial oxidation that introduces charge carriers into the film, thus changing its band gap and as a result, its dc-conductivity. Field-effect devices are very sensitive, but not selective. 

In the genuine low-temperature chemical conversion, which implies the incoherent tunneling regime, the time dependence of the reactant and product concentrations is detected in one way or another. From these kinetic data the rate constant is inferred. An example of such a case is the important in biology tautomerization of free-base porphyrines (H2P) and phtalocyanins (H2PC), involving transfer of two hydrogen atoms between equivalent positions in the square formed by four N atoms inside a planar 16-member heterocycle (fig. 42). 

In other sections in this chapter, we have referred to a variety of macropolycyclic structures which are more elaborate than the simple three-stranded bicyclic cryptands. This includes bridged double-macrocycles " , in-out bicyclic amines and the macrotricyclic quaternary ammonium salts of Schmidtchen. In addition to these, there are two other types of compounds which deserve special note. The first of these is a stacked twin-ring cryptand, but it is a hybrid molecule rather than a double-cryptand . The species shown below as 20 is a crowned porphyrin, and was designed to provide a pair of metal cation binding sites similar to those which might be available in natural biological systems . 

Tliere are several reasons for this great interest in the tautomerism of porphyrins (which could justify its own review) (1) their biological significance, (2) their applications in material science ( hole burning is related to their tautomerism), (3) the simplicity of the system (annular tautomerism involving intramolecular proton transfer both in solution and in the solid state), and (4) the possibility of elucidating the kinetic processes in great detail. 

Macrocyclic polyamines may be viewed as an extended form of linear polyamines 13-161 with one less degree of saturation. Polyamines with lower degrees of saturation, have important biological functions. Compounds such as macrocyclic polyimines 171 and porphyrines 18), function as 02 carriers and activators, promote photosynthesis, form the basic structure of vitamine B12, etc., and for these reasons have been subjects of intense investigation. 

The high stability of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins is based on their aromaticity, so that porphyrins are not only most widespread in biological systems but also are found as geoporphyrins in sediments and have even been detected in interstellar space. The stability of the porphyrin ring system can be demonstrated by treatment with strong acids, which leave the macrocycle untouched. The instability of porphyrins occurs in reduction and oxidation reactions especially in the presence of light. The most common chemical reactivity of the porphyrin nucleus is electrophilic substitution which is typical for aromatic compounds. 

Calcium-binding proteins, 6, 564, 572, 596 intestinal, 6, 576 structure, 6, 573 Calcium carbonate calcium deposition as, 6, 597 Calcium complexes acetylacetone, 2, 372 amides, 2,164 amino acids, 3, 33 arsine oxides, 3, 9 biology, 6, 549 bipyridyl, 3, 13 crown ethers, 3, 39 dimethylphthalate, 3, 16 enzyme stabilization, 6, 549 hydrates, 3, 7 ionophores, 3, 66 malonic acid, 2, 444 peptides, 3, 33 phosphines, 3, 9 phthalocyanines, 2,863 porphyrins, 2, 820 proteins, 2, 770 pyridine oxide, 3,9 Schiff bases, 3, 29 urea, 3, 9... 

Ravikanth M, Chandrashekar TK (1995) Nonplanar Porphyrins and Their Biological Relevance Ground and Excited State Dynamics. 82 105-188 Rawle SC, see Cooper SR (1990) 72 1-72 Raymond KN, see Baker EC (1976) 25 21-66... 

Much effort has also been directed toward mimicking electron transfer on natural photosynthetic systems. Recently, the group of Harada has been able to prepare monoclonal antibodies against metallo porphyrins and show that the biological edifice can control photoinduced electron transfer from the porphyrin to organic acceptor molecules in solution. As it was important to design a biomolecule able to accommodate not only the metalloporphyrin unit but also organic substrates, Harada recently used a hexacoordinated phosphorus... 

In addition to nonheme iron complexes also heme systems are able to catalyze the oxidation of benzene. For example, porphyrin-like phthalocyanine structures were employed to benzene oxidation (see also alkane hydroxylation) [129], Mechanistic investigations of this t3 pe of reactions were carried out amongst others by Nam and coworkers resulting in similar conclusions like in the nonheme case [130], More recently, Sorokin reported a remarkable biological aromatic oxidation, which occurred via formation of benzene oxide and involves an NIH shift. Here, phenol is obtained with a TON of 11 at r.t. with 0.24 mol% of the catalyst. 

Cyclopropane rings are commonly found in biologically active natural products and therapeutic drug molecules [50-52]. Iron porphyrins are active catalysts for the... 

Biological free radicals occur as more or less stable intermediate products during many enzymatic reactions. Elavin and heme radicals and porphyrin molecules are relevant examples of food colorants. Extended literature surveys are available... 

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