title: Biomimetic modeling of copper complexes: a study of enantioselective catalytic oxidation on d-(+)-catechin and L-( - )-epicatechin with copper complexes.
abstract: The biomimetic catalytic oxidations of the dinuclear and trinuclear copper(II) complexes versus two catechols, namely, D-(+)-catechin and L-( - )-epicatechin to give the corresponding quinones are reported. The unstable quinones were trapped by the nucleophilic reagent, 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH), and have been calculated the molar absorptivities of the different quinones. The catalytic efficiency is moderate, as inferred by kinetic constants, but the complexes exhibit significant enantio-differentiating ability towards the catechols, albeit for the dinuclear complexes, this enantio-differentiating ability is lower. In all cases, the preferred enantiomeric substrate is D-(+)-catechin to respect the other catechol, because of the spatial disposition of this substrate.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Inorganica, Metallorganica e Analitica "Lamberto Malatesta", Università di Milano, Istituto ISTM-CNR, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pievo
authors.forename: Maila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sgobba
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gullotti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santagostini