Research Topics

1. Bioinorganic model complexes for mononuclear, non-heme iron dependent oxidases and oxygenases:

Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetato ligands are used to mimic the 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad found in the active sites of mononuclear, non-heme iron dependent oxidases and oxygenases. With such iron and ruthenium models we try to mimic certain steps in the catalytic cycle and the biosynthesis of the enzymes by biomimetic reactions.

 2. Bioinorganic model complexes for zinc peptidases and proteases:

Several zinc peptidases and proteases that are relevant to medicine bind zinc in the active site by two histidines and one glutamate. With zinc bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetato complexes we developed structural models for these active sites. Our current interests focus on the coordination of protease inhibitors to the zinc models and the construction of functional models.

 3. Coordination chemistry of bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acids:

By some exemplary coordination or organometallic complexes we will prove that bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetato ligands are as versatile for coordination chemistry as cyclopentadienyl ligands (Cp) or hydrido(trispyrazol-1-yl)borato ligands (Tp).

 4. Chiral enantiopure N,N,O tripod ligands:

Starting from compounds of the Chiral Pool new chiral enantiopure tripod ligands for coordination chemistry were developed. The syntheses of these ligands are  performed in only a few steps and no separation of enantiomers or diastereomers is necessary.

 5. Crystallography:

If possible, the model complexes are characterised by X-ray structure analysis. This allows a comparison of the structural models with the geometries of the active site of the enzymes. In addition to this the research group has experience in the field of pseudo kinetic protein crystallography.