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Biomimetic Catalysis: History
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Subjects: Chemistry, Organic
Contributor: Helena Kang

Catalytic systems designed to reproduce essential structural or mechanistic features of enzyme active sites constitute biomimetic catalysis. The catalyst is abiotic—typically a metal complex, a porous framework, or a designed organic host—yet it implements first-coordination-sphere ligands, second-sphere hydrogen bonds, or confinement that parallel those of a metalloenzyme. Porous metal–organic frameworks provide isolated, structurally defined sites that function as heterogeneous biomimetic catalysts [1]. Bioinspired framework catalysts span the continuum from immobilized enzymes to wholly synthetic mimics in which the framework itself is the catalyst [2]. Metalloporphyrin-containing MOFs illustrate biomimetic oxidation catalysis in which a heme-like iron center is held in a porous lattice [3]. The defining criterion is mechanistic or structural analogy to a biological catalyst, not merely high activity: a conventional solid acid or a simple metal salt is not biomimetic unless it is organized to copy an enzymatic binding or activation motif. The concept therefore lies between enzymatic catalysis and ordinary chemocatalysis, bounded by the requirement of an enzyme-inspired active-site design.

  • biomimetic catalysis
  • enzyme mimic
  • metal–organic frameworks
  • metalloporphyrin

Synthesis and Catalytic Reactions • Organic Chemistry • Chemistry • Physical Sciences

References

  1. Min Zhao; Sha Ou; Chuan-De Wu; Porous Metal–Organic Frameworks for Heterogeneous Biomimetic Catalysis. Acc. Chem. Res. 2014, 47, 1199-1207, 10.1021/ar400265x.
  2. Kun-Yu Wang; Jiaqi Zhang; Yu-Chuan Hsu; Hengyu Lin; Zongsu Han; Jiandong Pang; Zhentao Yang; Rong-Ran Liang; Wei Shi; Hong-Cai Zhou; et al. Bioinspired Framework Catalysts: From Enzyme Immobilization to Biomimetic Catalysis. Chem. Rev. 2023, 123, 5347-5420, 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00879.
  3. Yao Chen; Shengqian Ma; Biomimetic catalysis of metal–organic frameworks. Dalton Trans. 2016, 45, 9744-9753, 10.1039/c6dt00325g.
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