CATALYTIC GALACTOSE-OXIDASE MODELS - BIOMIMETIC CU(II)-PHENOXYL-RADICAL REACTIVITY

Biomimetic functional models of the mononuclear copper enzyme galactos e oxidase are presented that catalytically oxidize benzylic and allyli c alcohols to aldehydes with O-2 under mild conditions, The mechanisti c fidelity between the models and the natural system is pronounced. Mo dest structural mimicry proves sufficient to transfer an unusual ligan d-based radical mechanism, previously unprecedented outside the protei n matrix, to a simple chemical system.