ON THE CHEMISTRY OF PYRROLE PIGMENTS .87. THE APOMYOGLOBIN HEME POCKET AS A REACTION VESSEL IN BILE PIGMENT CHEMISTRY

An apomyoglobin biliverdin complex was reduced to a bilirubin apomyoglobin complex with retention of the helix chirality of the chromophore. Chelation of the mesobiliverdin-XIIIα apomyoglobin complex with zinc ions in aqueous solution yielded an enantiomer of the corresponding derivative. These two systems document the possibility of using the heme pocket of apomyoglobin to execute stereospecific reactions. The chiroptical properties of the two product systems are discussed. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.