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A personal perspective on the discovery of dioxygen adducts of copper and iron by Nobumasa Kitajima

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Abstract

Abstract

Transition metal–dioxygen complexes have fascinated bioinorganic and inorganic chemists for over half a century. The late Nobumasa Kitajima was one of the very successful researchers in this field. Despite his short career (40 years old), he made many important contributions. This Commentary highlights his important accomplishments and how they have impacted subsequent work in this area.

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Abbreviations

bppa:

Bis(6-pivalamide-2-pyridylmethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine

3,5-iPr2pzH:

3,5-Diisopropyl-1-pyrazole

N-Et-HPTB:

N, N, N’, N’-tetrakis(1-ethylbenzimidazolyl-2-methyl)-1,3-diamino-2-propanol

L0− :

Hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate anion

L1− :

Hydrotris(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate)borate anion

L3− :

Hydrotris(3-tertialy butyl-5-isoporpyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate anion

L5− :

Hydrotris(3,5-diphenyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate anion

L10− :

Hydrotris(3-adamantyl-5-isoporpyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate anion

mCPBA:

m-chloroperbenzoic acid

oxyhemocyanin:

Oxygenated hemocyanin

PhIO:

Iodosylbenzene

Ph-bimp:

2.6-Bis[bis{2-(1-methyl-4,5-diphenylimidazolyl)methyl}aminomethyl]-4-methylphenolate

TMG3tren:

1,1,1-Tris{2-[N 2-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidino)]ethyl}amine

Tp:

Hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate

TPA:

Tris{(2-pyridyl)methyl}amine

XYL–O–:

α,α’-Bis{N, N-bis(2-pyridylethyl)amino}-m-xylene-2-olate

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the authors whose names are found in the cited references for their research efforts and contributions. I am grateful for support from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (K.F. 25109505) and the Iwatani Naoji Foundation’s Research Grant. I also thank Professor Larry Que for critical reading of this manuscript. Finally, I would like to express my thanks to our collaborators.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Ibaraki University, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-8512, Japan

    Kiyoshi Fujisawa

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  1. Kiyoshi Fujisawa
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Correspondence to Kiyoshi Fujisawa.

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This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Osamu Hayaishi and my most respected mentor, Professor Nobumasa Kitajima.

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Fujisawa, K. A personal perspective on the discovery of dioxygen adducts of copper and iron by Nobumasa Kitajima. J Biol Inorg Chem 22, 237–251 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-016-1432-1

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