CAREER / SusChEM: Bio-inspired synthesis of conformationally flexible analogues of the biological oxygen evolving complex: A redesigned approach to manganese cluster molecules

有了这个CAREER奖，化学合成计划将支持坦普尔大学的Michael J. Zdilla教授对光系统II的氧释放复合物（OEC）的研究，这是自然界对太阳能水分解中最耗能的组成部分的解决方案。该催化剂是锰-钙-氧簇，其通过5阶段催化循环经历结构重排，由此其将水氧化成氧，将质子泵送穿过类囊体膜，并收获还原当量用于糖中的能量储存。在这一领域有相对广泛的模型化学锰簇，但重排化学和集群的灵活性，关键组成部分的行动的OEC，没有很好地代表在文献中。Zdilla教授的研究计划有两个主要重点：1）通过避免稳定螯合配体来设计和制备增强灵活性的锰簇，这些配体将簇核心锁定在适当的位置，以及2）研究这些系统的反应和重排化学，特别是与成熟的，更稳定的螯合簇相比。全球能源需求继续呈指数级增长，而化石燃料储备继续枯竭。为了满足世界能源需求，必须开发新的太阳能技术。大自然选择锰簇辅因子来实现光合作用中困难的水氧化反应，这表明这些分子具有巨大的太阳能水活化转化能力。拟议的工作将追求这些目标的工作，提供了研究生和本科生的培训机会，并提供少数民族的培训机会，在坦普尔，在美国最种族和文化多样性的城市学校之一。PI将继续通过化学遗产基金会，Nerd Nite Cafe和费城科学节等组织参与费城地区的科学推广活动。他还将沿着全球晶体学社区，开发一个急需的X射线晶体学教育资源数据库，供所有晶体学教师和学生使用，目的是为这一多领域学科提供广泛的教育资源。

With this CAREER award, the Chemical Synthesis Program will support the research of Professor Michael J. Zdilla of Temple University on the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II that is nature's solution to the most energetically taxing component of solar water splitting. This catalyst is a manganese-calcium-oxo cluster which undergoes structural rearrangements via a 5-stage catalytic cycle whereby it oxidizes water to oxygen, pumps protons across the thylakoid membrane, and harvests reducing equivalents for energy storage in sugars. In this area there is relatively extensive model chemistry of manganese clusters but the rearrangement chemistry and cluster flexibility, key components to the action of the OEC, are not well represented in the literature. Prof Zdilla's research program has two main foci: 1) the design and preparation of manganese clusters of enhanced flexibility via the avoidance of stabilizing chelating ligands, which lock cluster cores in place, and 2) study of reaction and rearrangement chemistry of these systems, especially in comparison to the well-established, more stable chelate clusters. Global energy demand continues to grow exponentially while fossil fuel reserves continue to be depleted. To meet world energy demands, new solar energy technology must be developed. Nature's selection of a manganese cluster cofactor to achieve the difficult water oxidation reaction of photosynthesis suggests these molecules possess enormous transformative power for solar-powered water activation. The proposed work will pursue these goals in work that affords the opportunity for training of graduate and undergraduate students, and also provides minority training opportunities at Temple, one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse urban schools in the United States. The PI will continue his involvement in science outreach in the Philadelphia area through organizations like the Chemical Heritage Foundation, Nerd Nite Cafe, and the Philadelphia Science Festival. He will also pursue, along with the worldwide crystallographic community, the development of a much needed database of X-ray crystallographic educational resources, accessible to all teachers and students of crystallography, with the aim of providing extensive educational resources for this multi-field discipline.