The development of selective aromatic oxidation catalysts based on non-noble metals has emerged over the last decades, mainly due to the importance of phenol products as intermediates for the generation of pharmaceuticals or functional polymers. In nature, metalloenzymes can perform a wide variety of oxidative processes using molecular oxygen, including arene oxidations, however, the implementation of such enzymes in the chemical industry remains challenging. In this context, chemists have tried to mimic nature and design synthetic non-noble metal catalysts inspired by these enzymes. This introduction chapter aims at providing a general overview on aromatic oxidation reactions catalyzed by metalloenzymes as well as synthetic first-row transition-metal complexes as homogeneous catalysts. The enzymes and complexes discussed in this chapter have been classified on the basis of the transition-metal ion present in their active site, i.e., iron, copper, nickel, and manganese. The main points of discussion focus on enzyme structure and function, catalyst design, mechanism of operation in terms of oxidant activation and substrate oxidation, and substrate scope. At the end of the chapter, the aim and scope of this thesis is outlined.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.