Biologically inspired oxidation catalysis using metallopeptides

Abstract

The stereoselective oxidation of hydrocarbons is one of the most challenging reactions for synthetic chemists. However, this transformation is one of the most common reactions in nature. Metalloenzymes that catalyze this transformation are taken as inspiration for the development of new catalysts. There are several examples in the literature where either peptides or metal catalysts are used in the stereoselective oxidation reaction, but the synergistic combination of both systems is still a non-explored field. The use of metallopeptides in biologically inspired oxidation reactions is discussed in this perspective.