A Synzyme That Yields Myoglobin‐Like Activity Jason Shearer, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 The goal of this project is to prepare metal‐complexes that can perform catalytic reactions. Specifically the the metal‐centers will be contained within a bioinspired peptide‐PNA scaffold. It was initially intended to use Mn‐porphyrins as oxidation catalysts, however, these proved to be far too delicate and rapidly decomposed under oxidative conditions. Instead we found that with slight modifications of the scaffold a peptide‐PNA conjugate could be produced that reversibly bound O2. Furthermore, some selectivity for O2 over both NO and azide could be achieved. This has practical implications for the production of synthetic blood. HOOC N N Fe N N
Fe N
N
HOOC
N
PEPTIDE
PEPTIDE
PNA
PNA NH X Fe N
NO or N3
N H
PEPTIDE
PNA
PEPTIDE
–
NH Fe N
PEPTIDE
X = NO or N3– O2
PNA O2
N H PNA
N H
O2 Fe N
N H
PEPTIDE
PNA