Inorganic-Electrochemistry Seminar

The scientific interest in the macrocyclic metal chelating corroles has evidenced a remarkable increase since the discovery of their first one-pot synthesis in 1999. Facile synthetic modifications that were introduced during the latest years now allow for tuning of the most fundamental properties of corroles, such as lipo-/hydro-/amphilicity, photo-excited states and their mode of decay to the ground state, and the stability/reactivity profiles of the corresponding metal complexes. 

The impact of these investigations is exemplified by the introduction of corrole metal chelates for bio-imaging (Al is the best choice), detection and curing of tumors (mainly Ga), treatment of disease symptoms (cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and diabetes, mainly by Fe) that are caused or amplified by reactive oxygen species. One most recent emphasis is on in depth understanding of the chemical and biochemical processes behind the utility of metallocorroles as drug candidates. Other research efforts are on their introduction as catalysts for the most important chemical reactions involved in energy-relevant processes, such as selective 4-electron reduction of oxygen to water and the hydrogen evolution reaction.