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Atypical Structural and π‐Electron Features of a Melanin Polymer That Lead to Superior Free‐Radical‐Scavenging Properties
Author(s) -
Panzella Lucia,
Gentile Gennaro,
D'Errico Gerardino,
Della Vecchia Nicola F.,
Errico Maria E.,
Napolitano Alessandra,
Carfagna Cosimo,
d'Ischia Marco
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201305747
Subject(s) - scavenger , melanin , scavenging , chemistry , free radical scavenger , electron paramagnetic resonance , polymer , photochemistry , solid state , radical , antioxidant , organic chemistry , biochemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance , physics
The black we wear : Why nature selected 5,6‐dihydroxyindole‐2‐carboxylic acid (DHICA) to synthesize (photo)protective eumelanin pigments is an enigma. Synthetic DHICA eumelanin has now been shown to be a highly efficient free‐radical scavenger in the solid state, which is due to a conformationally interrupted π‐electron network associated with atypical optical, paramagnetic, and aggregation properties.