Synthetic models for heme-copper oxidases

The synthetic modeling of heme-copper oxidases was described. The fundamental aspects of the relevant coordination chemistry, metal ion ligation, coordination structures, spectroscopy and spectroscopic structural correlation, and reactivity were studied. It was suggested that the compounds were excellent precursors for reactions with hydrogen peroxide, potentially leading to species of interest and relevance to the enzyme O 2 reduction pathway. Generation and characterization of carbon monoxide adducts of heme and/or copper, which provided preliminary insights into the binding of the O 2, thereby allowing the probe of the heme-copper environment was also described.