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Curriculum Vitae Course Home Pages |
Welcome to the Riordan Laboratory at
Bioinorganic, Coordination, |
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Professor Charles G. Riordan 211 Lammot DuPont Laboratory |
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Our research program focuses on
frontier mechanistic problems in bioinorganic chemistry that may be probed
through synthesis, reactivity and kinetic studies. Research at this
interface requires the tools of chemical synthesis, spectroscopy and physical
organic chemistry. The studies are collaborative and
multidisciplinary. Specifically,
we are interested in modeling the spectroscopic properties and catalytic
reactivity of the nickel-containing enzymes carbon monoxide dehydrogenase
(COdH), acetyl coenzyme A synthase (ACS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The first two enzymes are found in
anaerobic microorganisms that are capable of metabolizing small molecules, i.e.
CO, CO2 and acetate. Second, we have designed a ligand
scaffold that provides a sulfur-rich coordination sphere for metal ions with
the aim of constructing biomimetic and organometallic complexes. As one
example, we are utilizing the ligands to support zinc ions to develop functional
models for zinc enzymes that catalyze C-S bond formation, e.g. methionine
synthase and farnesyl transferase.
In a different vein, we are exploring small molecule activation via low
valent, late transition metal complexes, such as Ni(I), Co(I). Reductive dioxygen activation represents
a primary current focus.
URL of this
document: http://www.udel.edu/chem/riordan/
Last Updated: September 02, 2008