The Colours of Life: An Introduction to the Chemistry of Porphyrins and Related CompoundsWhy are leaves green and blood red? The answer lies with one family of pigments. The energy processes that make life on earth possible - photosynthesis and cellular metabolism-are, at their most fundamental molecular level, mainly driven by one family of pigments: the porphyrins and theirderivatives. Because the subject of porphyrins embraces many scientific disciplines, it is the aim of this book to introduce the specialist and non-specialist reader to these colourful compounds. This book describes what porphyrins and related compounds are, their biosynthesis and breakdown, howporphyrins function in life, what happens when porphyrin metabolism goes wrong, how synthetic porphyrins are made, and how they are used for a range of applications including solar-energy conversion, cancer phototherapy, molecular electronics, and new display technologies. This book will beinvaluble to final year undergraduates and postgraduates in chemistry as well as the educated lay reader. |
Common terms and phrases
absorption acceptor amino acid aromatic axial b₁ b₂ benzene bile pigments bilirubin biliverdin binding biosynthesis blood called carbon atoms catalysed cation cells CH3 CH3 Chem chemical chemistry chemists chlorin chlorophyll CO₂H CO₂H CO₂Me CO₂Me complex compounds conductivity cytochrome delocalised deoxyhemoglobin double bonds electron transfer electron-transporting energy enzyme Fe(II Figure four give globin groups H H H hemoglobin hemoproteins histidine HO₂C Hückel hydrogen bonding iron isomer ligands light lignin macrocycle membrane meso-carbons meso-positions metabolism metal metalloporphyrin methyl molecular orbitals molecules myoglobin NADPH nitrogen occurs OCH3 open-chain tetrapyrroles organic oxidation oxidised pathway peroxide photosensitiser photosynthesis phthalocyanines phyrins polymers porphyrin porphyrin macrocycle position produced protein protons protoporphyrin pyrrole Q bands R₁ radical reaction reactive redox reduced ring side chain singlet oxygen spectra spectrum ẞ chains structure substituents synthesis tetrapyrrole tion transition triplet uro'gen uroporphyrins UV-visible vitamin B12