Premium
Catalytic Radical Reduction in Aqueous Solution by a Ruthenium Hydride Intermediate
Author(s) -
Htet Yamin,
Tennyson Andrew G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201601887
Subject(s) - chemistry , hydride , catalysis , ruthenium , alkoxide , photochemistry , aqueous solution , reactivity (psychology) , radical , combinatorial chemistry , organic chemistry , metal , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Some manganese complexes can catalyze both antioxidant and pro‐oxidant reactions, whereby the disparate reactivity modes are determined by the catalyst environment and afford distinct therapeutic effects. We recently reported the reduction of radicals in buffered aqueous solution catalyzed by a ruthenium complex with biologically relevant non‐tertiary alcohols as terminal reductants. Mechanistic evidence is presented, indicating that this catalytic radical reduction is achieved by a Ru‐hydride intermediate formed by β‐hydride elimination from a Ru‐alkoxide species. A similar mechanism and Ru‐hydride intermediate was previously reported to kill cancer cells with catalytic pro‐oxidant effects. Therefore, our demonstration of catalytic antioxidant effects by the same type of intermediate reveals new potential therapeutic strategies and applications for catalytic systems that form Ru‐hydride intermediates.