Biomimetic Model Complexes of Dioxygenases

Abstract

Cysteine dioxygenase and quercetin dioxygenase are two important dioxygenase metalloenzymes having vital roles in biochemical processes that affect our body and the environment. Biomimetic modeling is the design of metal complexes that are both structural and functional analogues of the active sites of metalloenzymes. Using these analogues it is possible to gain greater insight into the catalytic mechanism of these enzymes, as well as providing catalysts for studying, new synthetic transformations, bioremediations of aromatic and heteroaromatic waste compounds, green chemistry catalysis, or used as potential drug targets. The purpose of this study included the synthesis and structural characterization of molecules with one or more characteristics of the active site of these dioxygenase enzymes.