Nitrosyl and Nitroso Metalloporphyrins

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Dr. George Richter-Addo, Department of Chemistry, University of Oklahoma, is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Program of the Chemistry Division under a Faculty Early Career Development Award for studies of nitrosyl- and nitroso-metalloporphyrins. Nitric oxide is an atmospheric pollutant and it plays an important role in some biosynthetic pathways. Organic nitroso compounds may play a role as physiological mediators in reactions of nitric oxide. Metalloporphyrin complexes will be synthesized, and the chemical reactions and modes of interaction with the metal centers will be investigated. The education plan is aimed at involving undergraduate students in research, designing laboratory experiments involving metalloporphyrin synthesis, and developing an undergraduate bioinorganic course. The overall goal of this research is to examine the reactions of synthetic analogues of biologically important molecules known as metalloporphyrins. These molecules, which consist of a metal ion surrounded by a ring of nitrogen and carbon atoms, are ubiquitous in biological systems and have been found to react with nitric oxide and its derivatives. Nitric oxide is an atmospheric pollutant, and organic nitroso compounds are carcinogens found in some food and in cigarette smoke. This chemistry has the potential to provide a better understanding of the role of the interactions of metalloporphyrins with nitric oxides in physiological systems. The education plan focuses on undergraduate research and the development of new laboratory experiments and courses which emphasize the biological significance of inorganic chemistry.