Synthesis of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) enzyme mimetics: A bioinorganic laboratory experiment

The study of mimetics of metalloenzymes is a fascinating field. In the light of the clinical data surrounding the use of the superoxide dismutase enzymes, low molecular mass mimics of superoxide dismutase enzymes have recently been proposed for the treatment of a variety of diseases. We propose the synthesis of the manganese(III) complex of N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine ligand (H2salen)and the investigation on its superoxide dismutase ability by an indirect assay. This laboratory project was one component of a semester-long advanced undergraduate laboratory course in bioinorganic chemistry and could be expanded using several complementary techniques to characterize the ligand, the metal complex, or to investigate other activities shown by this class of complexes.