Reactivity of active centre analogues of Cu2Zn2 superoxide dismutase

Active centre analogues of Cu2Zn2 superoxide dismutase were devised and successfully employed. Emphasis was placed on the flexible nature of the superoxide mimicking compounds. Di-Schiff-bases proved most appropriate to fulfil these requirements. Both structural and functional aspects of the copper binding centre of the intact enzyme were met by these complexes. Nanomolar concentrations of copper coordinated in these complexes were sufficient to inhibit the K3CrO8 induced chemiluminescence identical to the reaction of Cu2Zn2 superoxide dismutase.