Copper Bioinorganic Chemistry

Book excerpt: Bioinorganic chemistry is an interdisciplinary research field which centers on metals in biology. Over the past few decades, advances in chemistry, biology as well as in spectroscopic methods have shed light on the role of copper in human pathologies and allowed the growing discovery of copper-containing biological systems. Following this trend, much effort is being constantly chanelled towards understanding these fundamental biological processes or enzymes. In addition, chemists are developing molecules to target copper or copper enzymes as therapeutic tools. On the other hand, inspired by the function of biological systems, small molecular weight complexes inspired by the active site of copper enzymes are being prepared and studied. These bioinspired complexes can function both as mechanistic tools and as functional catalysts for oxidative transformations. The seven chapters in this book, contributed by internationally recognized authors cover recent developments on these aspects illustrated by interdisciplinary fields from biology, chemistry, spectroscopy to bioinspired catalysis. It contains aspects ranging from human health issues (copper homeostasis in bacteria and the development of molecules as anticancer or antibacterial agents) to bioinspired catalysis.