Debabrata Maiti – It takes a community to functionalize a C-H bond

If you’re not familiar with some of the terms used in this discussion – some key ones are described here for your reference:

• Bio-inorganic chemistry – the study of the role of metals in biological processes. This includes naturally occurring molecules and artificially introduced proteins.
• Metal center (active site) – the active metal in a larger molecule that reacts in (or catalyzes) a reaction
• Catalysis – increasing the rate of a reaction by introducing a substance to the reaction know as a catalyst. Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction.
• Functionalization of Carbon-Hydrogen bonds – converting a (Carbon-Hydrogen) C-H bond to a C-R bond. R represents a functional group that enables the final molecule to perform a specific reaction.
• Activation of Carbon-Hydrogen bonds – Reading (or breaking) the C-H bond so that the desired functional group can replace the Hydrogen.
• Enzyme – An organic catalyst, often found in nature and active in living cells. Enzymes are typically protein molecules.
• Organic molecule/organic substrate – A compound containing Carbon.
• Hydrogen bonding – An electrostatic force of interaction between a Hydrogen atom and another electronegative atom. The most common Hydrogen bonds occur between Hydrogen and either Nitrogen, Oxygen, or Fluorine.
• Reoxidize (oxidize) – during a reaction, a catalyst may accept electrons from the primary reactants or otherwise become reduced. Removing those electrons, or otherwise oxidizing the catalyst enables it to once more catalyze the reaction.
• Stoichiometric amount – Calculating the number of molecules (usually in moles) required for a given reaction.
• Photochemistry – Chemical reactions which are influenced by the presence or absence of light, often at specific wavelengths. Photochemistry is used to closely control reactions – i.e. the reaction will not take place if the correct light isn’t present.
• Motif – A specific part of a molecule – often found in a number of molecules.

Prof Maiti is contactable on social media, and you can find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/debabrata-maiti-54ab622a/

 

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