DGIST succeeded in materials synthesis for high efficiency in biological reaction

DGIST research team succeeded in synthesizing new biomimetic materials that will increase the efficiency of chemical reaction related to body metabolism and discovered that synthesized materials cause the oxidation of aldehydes. The results are expected to bring positive impacts on catalyst development in the future.

DGIST announced that Professor Jaeheung Cho's team in the Department of Emerging Material Science developed 'copper(II)-hydroperoxo1 complex,' a biomimetic compound that conducts aldehyde deformylation. This complex is drawing attention in bioinorganic fields due to its higher efficiency than the existing complexes which cause deformylation reaction.

'Deformylation reaction' is a type of oxidation2 reaction that deformylates double-bond structure of carbon and oxygen inside aldehyde or ketone3 compound in a different form. It especially adjusts important chemical reaction in various ways by controlling the conversion of steroid with sex hormone or by converting the fat aldehyde formed during fat reduction4. To synthesize biomimetic compounds, the research team added 'hydroperoxo,' a combination of electrons and proton with oxygen molecule, to a copper compound. The 'copper(II)-hydroperoxo complex' formed here boasts much higher efficiency in deformylation reaction than other existing materials.

It is especially the first time to confirm that copper(II)-hydroperoxo adduct is directly involved in deformylation reaction.

Professor Jaeheung Cho in the Department of Emerging Materials Science at DGIST said "We believe we've expanded the research scope of materials involved in deformylation reaction, which plays an important role in biological system. We will continue our research on materials or method that have higher efficiency and controllability in deformylation reaction," and explained his follow-up research plans.