METAL-INDEPENDENT PUTATIVE SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE MIMICS IN CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE

The excessive generation of superoxide radicals O-2 with inadequate av ailable defence provided by the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) may result in the development and exacerbation of many of mankind's common illnesses. The native SOD proves too problematic to be used for the p revention and cure of such diseases. A number of metal-independent syn thetic SOD mimics, based on organic nitroxides, have been tried as the rapeutic interventions. Among the widely studied mimics, 2-ethyl-2,5,5 -trimethyl-3-oxazolidinanyl, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidimyloxy, nit rosoureas, and triazene derivatives have indicated promising results w ith possible future applications in chemistry, biology, and medicine. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.