Since the classic work Metal-Catalyzed Oxidations of Organic Compounds (edited by R A Sheldon and J K Kochi, 1991), no book has been devoted to advances in the field of biomimetic oxidations, which was created nearly 18 years ago. This expanding research field is covered in this volume. All the different aspects of the modeling of oxidations catalyzed by metalloenzymes are dealt with.This invaluable book will be useful to postgraduates as well as researchers in academia and industry, and will also benefit second year university students.

How does nature manage to produce reactions from "difficult" substrates? How are stable molecules involved in low-temperature, low-pressure chemical reactions? How can a chemist stop a chemical reaction short of oxidation? Adopting the premise that there is a chemical analog for any naturally occurring enzymatic process, a renowned chemist answers these and other challenging questions in Metal Complexes in Biomimetic Chemical Reactions. Based on reactions this eminent author has studied in the laboratory during his long and distinguished career, this fascinating book explains chemical analogs as they apply to their biological counterparts. This volume covers basic chemical reactions found in nature, including: molecular nitrogen reduction in solution; selective hydrocarbon oxidation (including methane); and photodecomposition of water. Numerous drawings, equations, and structures enhance the text. The importance of chemical reactions lies in their extrapolation to natural processes; once we identify the chemical analog, we can devise ecologically sound alternatives to natural chemical reactions.

The activation of dioxygen by metal ions has both synthetic potential and biological relevance. Dioxygen is the cleanest oxidant for use in emission-free technologies to minimize pollution of the environment. The book gives a survey of those catalyst systems based on metal complexes which have been discovered and studied in the last decade. They activate molecular oxygen and effect the oxidation of various organic compounds under mild conditions. Much of the recent progress is due to a search for biomimetic catalysts that would duplicate the action of metalloenzymes. Mechanistic aspects are emphasized throughout the book. An introductonary chapter reviews the chemistry of transition metal dioxygen complexes, which are usually the active intermediates in the catalytic reactions discussed. Separate chapters are devoted to oxidation of saturated, unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, catechols, oxo-compounds, phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen compounds.

The catalytic epoxidation of olefins plays an important role in the industrial production of several commodity compounds, as well as in the synthesis of many intermediates, fine chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The scale of production ranges from millions of tons per year to a few grams per year. The diversity of catalysts is large and encompasses all the known categories of catalyst type: homogeneous, heterogeneous, and biological. This book summarizes the current status in these fields concentrating on rates, kinetics, and reaction mechanisms, but also covers broad topics including modeling, computational simulation, process concepts, spectroscopy and new catalyst development. The similarities and distinctions between the different reaction systems are compared, and the latest advances are described. - Comprehensive listing of epoxide products - Broad comparison of turnover frequencies of homogeneous, hetergeneous, main-group, biomimetic and biological catalysts - Analysis of the general strengths and weaknesses of varied catalytic systems - Detailed description of the mechanisms of reaction for classical and emerging catalysts

The subject of dioxygen activation and homogeneous catalytic oxidation by metal complexes has been in the focus of attention over the last 20 years. The widespread interest is illustrated by its recurring presence among the sessions and subject areas of important international conferences on various aspects of bioinorganic and coordination chemistry as well as catalysis. The most prominent examples are ICCC, ICBIC, EUROBIC, ISHC, and of course the ADHOC series of meetings focusing on the subject itself. Similarly, the number of original and review papers devoted to various aspects of dioxygen activation are on the rise. This trend is due obviously to the relevance of catalytic oxidation to biological processes such as dioxygen transport, and the action of oxygenase and oxidase enzymes related to metabolism. The structural and functional modeling of metalloenzymes, particularly of those containing iron and copper, by means of low-molecular complexes of iron, copper, ruthenium, cobalt, manganese, etc., have provided a wealth of indirect information helping to understand how the active centers of metalloenzymes may operate. The knowledge gained from the study of metalloenzyme models is also applicable in the design of transition metal complexes as catalytsts for specific reactions. This approach has come to be known as biomimetic or bioinspired catalysis and continues to be a fruitful and expanding area of research.

This book focuses on the electronic properties of transition metals in coordination environments. These properties are responsible for the unique and intricate activity of transition metal sites in bio- and inorganic catalysis, but also pose challenges for both theoretical and experimental studies. Written by an international group of recognized experts, the book reviews recent advances in computational modeling and discusses their interplay using experiments. It covers a broad range of topics, including advanced computational methods for transition metal systems; spectroscopic, electrochemical and catalytic properties of transition metals in coordination environments; metalloenzymes and biomimetic compounds; and spin-related phenomena. As such, the book offers an invaluable resource for all researchers and postgraduate students interested in both fundamental and application-oriented research in the field of transition metal systems.

This book deals with the search for environmentally benign procedures for the oxidation of alcohols and gives an overview of their transition-metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation.