Mimics of copper proteins: Structural and functional aspects

The importance of copper as an essential element can be estimated by the wi de range of copper proteins and enzymes playing different roles in biologic al systems. In the last decades many bioinorganic studies were developed on mimetic complexes of copper-dependent proteins, in order to verify the int errelations between structural and functional properties of active copper c enters. Among the most studied copper ion ligand, diimine compounds have de served special attention due their flexibility, facility of preparation, an d ability to stabilize both oxidation states of this metal. In our laborato ry, we have been investigating some Schiff base copper complexes as mimics of different proteins, with emphasis on functional aspects, trying to eluci date mechanisms of reaction, based on proposed intermediary species, in add ition to molecular shapes. Particularly, mimics of the copper-zinc superoxi de dismutase, and of monooxigenases and oxidases exhibiting dicopper sites are discussed in this work.