Dicopper complexes of relevance to tyrosinase modelling: an overview

Abstract

A number of dicopper(II) complexes containing binucleating, primarily nitrogen donor ligands having m-xylyl spacers between the coordination units of relevance to tyrosinase activity and a brief account of the recent results obtained using a new non-Schiff base binucleating ligand providing only two-nitrogen coordination at each copper centre are described in this paper. This new system exhibits tyrosinase activity. A dihydroxo-bridged copper(II) complex has also been obtained with a novel ligand assembly formed as an impurity during our desired ligand synthesis. A brief review has been presented in this field emphasising the nature of the ligand systems and the reaction conditions.