Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-04-30

Membrane bound manganese porphyrin catalysts. Cytochrome p-450 enzyme mimics

Objective



Research objectives and content
The research group of Prof. Nolte (University of Nijmegen) is one of the few that has developed model systems for Cytochrome P-450, enzyme that catalyze a variety of oxidation reactions (hydroxilation of alkanes, epoxidation of alkenes...). There is great interest in the development of these catalytic systems not only to understand the natural enzyme systems but also to develop a new generation of synthetic catalysts. These systems contain all the key features of the natural enzyme with the only drawnback that it does not exhibit substantial substrate selectivity. The objective of this project is to construct an oxidative catalytic system which exhibit substrate selectivity and ultimately enantioselectivity. The research will consists of several phases: 1 ) The
synthesis of the manganese porphyin, the rhodium-bipyridine reductor, and amphiphilic molecular baskets. 2) Assembly and study of vesicles containing all three of the above components. 3) Investigation of the catalytic behaviour and substrate selectivity of the new model system. Subsequent optimization of the catalytic propertis by modification the receptor, surfactant and the reductor. 4) The inclusion of chirality in the working model, (by the use of chiral surfactants, chiral porphyrin catalytic sites and chiral receptors and the study of enantioselective properties of such systems).
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The proposed training will significantly enhance my knowlegde in the areas of synthesis, catalysis and the developing research field of nanosized functional devices. Catalysts by definition are of great social and industrial importance, in particular oxidative catalyst which use environmentally friendly moleculer oxygen. If the potential of this system if fully realized then this will be one of the first functional supramolecular self-assembling selective enzyme mimics.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
The group has extensive experience in the investigation of oxidation catalyts and has currently an industrial collaboration with DSM studying the oxidative catalysis of alkene-aromatic molecules using molecular oxygen.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)

Coordinator

Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen - Stichting Katholieke Universiteit
EU contribution
No data
Address
Toernooiveld
6500 GL Nijmegen
Netherlands
Total cost
No data