Cleavage of a Peroxide Bond via a Dual Attack by Functional Mimics of Glutathione Peroxidase

Abstract

Nonmetal‐containing peroxidase enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and peroxiredoxins, control cellular redox levels by catalyzing the reduction of H2O2. The remarkably higher reactivity of GPx enzyme as compared to the fully dissociated synthetic selenolate/thiolate molecule is probably due to the dual‐attack on the peroxide bond (HO1‐O2H) by the enzyme; The first one is a nucleophilic attack of the selenolate/thiolate moiety to O1 atom and the second attack at the O2 atom of the peroxide bond by the acidic “parked proton” from Trp or His residue present at the enzyme’s active site, leading to the facile cleavage of O‐O bond. Herein, we report two synthetic compounds (1 and 2), having a selenolate (Se−) and a proton donor (imidazolium or –COOH group) moieties, which showed excellent GPx‐like activity via dual‐attack on the peroxide bond. The combined effect of selenolate moiety that donates electrons to the antibonding orbital of O1‐O2 bond and the imidazolium or carboxylic acid moiety at the side chain that forms a strong H‐bonding with the O2 atom facilitates O‐O bond cleavage of H2O2 more efficiently. 1 and 2 exhibit remarkable ability in protecting Cu(I)‐complex [TpmCu(CH3CN)]+ (9) against H2O2 by acting as a sacrificial antioxidant, thereby preventing metal‐mediated ROS production.