Unprecedented simple artificial metalloenzymes were made from cyclodextrin diacids. Six α- and β-cyclodextrin diacids were prepared and their metal-binding and acid properties were investigated. The diacids formed fairly stable complexes with copper, zinc, and iron, with dissociation constants of 0.4-8×10-4 m. The iron complexes were found to catalyse a Fenton-like oxidation reaction of benzylic alcohols, which displayed Michaelis-Menten catalysis and rate accelerations up to 2700.
Keywords: biomimetic synthesis; cyclodextrins; iron; kinetics; oxidation.
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