X-RAY-ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF METAL CENTERS IN BIOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENTS OF RELEVANT SYNTHETIC ANALOGS

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been used extensively to probe the local environment of transition metal centres in biological syste ms. The synergy between such XAS studies and co-ordination chemistry i s well developed. Examples where XAS studies of metal centres in biolo gical systems have stimulated developments in coordination chemistry i nclude Amavadin and representatives of the oxymolybdoenzymes. Bond Val ence Sum Analysis, using structural information available for co-ordin ation complexes, is a useful tool to inspect the structure obtained fr om XAS and/or protein crystallography for a d-transition metal site in a biological system.