Publisher's Synopsis
How does nature manage to produce reactions from "difficult" substrates? How are stable molecules involved in low-temperature, low-pressure chemical reactions? How can a chemist stop a chemical reaction short of oxidation? Adopting the premise that there is a chemical analog for any naturally occurring enzymatic process, a renowned chemist answers these and other challenging questions in Metal Complexes in Biomimetic Chemical Reactions.
Based on reactions this eminent author has studied in the laboratory during his long and distinguished career, this fascinating book explains chemical analogs as they apply to their biological counterparts. This volume covers basic chemical reactions found in nature, including: molecular nitrogen reduction in solution; selective hydrocarbon oxidation (including methane); and photodecomposition of water. Numerous drawings, equations, and structures enhance the text. The importance of chemical reactions lies in their extrapolation to natural processes; once we identify the chemical analog, we can devise ecologically sound alternatives to natural chemical reactions.
