Heme proteins and metalloporphyrins: Redox chemistry and oxygen binding

Metalloporphyrins perform a variety of functions in nature from the storage and transport of electrons and molecular oxygen to the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and the activation of oxygen. The chemistry of both the centrally coordinated metal and the porphyrin macrocycle play important roles in these reactions. The use of model systems and metalloporphyrins, other than iron porphyrins, is described for the elucidation of the mechanism of action of the natural systems.