Synthetic light-harvesting systems

Miller RA, Presley A, Francis MB. Self-assembling light-harvesting systems from synthetically modified tobacco mosaic virus coat proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2007 129 3104-9. 

Dendrimers with porphyrin moieties at their centers have been investigated in some detail by Diederich and coworkers because of the similarity they have with biological molecules such as heme and cytochrome c [47-49]. Applications such as synthetic oxygen carriers for blood replacement can be envisioned for these materials. Also, a synthetic analog to cytochrome c could be utilized to transfer electrons in light-harvesting systems, albeit slightly different from the ones discussed previously. 

His research interests deal with the chemistry of cyclopropane derivatives, 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, synthesis of natural compounds and biologically active analogues. Recently, the research activity is also dedicated to synthetic studies for the production of new materials light-harvesting antenna systems and functionalized organogelators. 

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