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P450BM3 (CYP102A1), a fatty acid hydroxylase from Bacillus megaterium, has been extensively studied over a period of almost forty years. The enzyme has been redesigned to catalyse the oxidation of non-natural substrates as diverse as pharmaceuticals, terpenes and gaseous alkanes using a variety of engineering strategies. Crystal structures have provided a basis for several of the catalytic effects brought about by mutagenesis, while changes to reduction potentials, inter-domain electron transfer rates and catalytic parameters have yielded functional insights. Areas of active research interest include drug metabolite production, the development of process-scale techniques, unravelling general mechanistic aspects of P450 chemistry, methane oxidation, and improving selectivity control to allow the synthesis of fine chemicals. This review draws together the disparate research themes and places them in a historical context with the aim of creating a resource that can be used as a gateway to the field.

The microwave spectra of two isotopic species of trimethylphosphine, (CD 3 ) 2 (CH 3 )P and (CD 3 ) 3 P, have been recorded in the spectral region 20–39 GHz. Only c-type transitions were observed and R -branch assignments have been made for the (CD 3 ) 2 (CH 3 )P molecule and two transitions were observed for the symmetric top molecule, (CD 3 ) 3 P. From these rotational constants along with those reported for five other isotopic species of trimethylphosphine, the complete r 0 structural parameters have been determined and they are: r (PC = 1.845±0.001A, r(CH) = 1.096±0.001 A, ∠CPC = 98.95 ± 0.20°, ∠HCH = 109.02±0.16° with an angle of tilt of the methyl groups of 1.67±0.17°. The Raman spectra (3500-100 cm −1 of (CD 3 )(CH 3 ) 2 P and (CD 3 ) 2 (CH 3 )P in the liquid state have been obtained. From these data, along with the vibrational data for the d 0 - and d 9 -molecules, a complete vibrational assignment is proposed. The fundamental vibrational frequencies, barriers to internal rotation and structural parameters which have been obtained experimentally, are compared to those obtained from ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations employing the 3-21G basis set. Additionally, structural parameters have been calculated utilizing 3-21G * ,6-31G ** and DZ basis sets. All to these results are compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.

Metallothioneins (MTs) were discovered more than 50 years ago and identified as low-molecular weight, sulfhydryl-rich proteins that were subsequently found to bind zinc predominantly. The binding of seemingly redox inactive zinc ions allows MT to play a central role in oxidoreductive cellular metabolism, cellular zinc distribution and homeostasis. In this interpretive study, we discuss the interaction of MT with physiologically relevant molecules and its effect on zinc-thiolate bonds. These interactions are linked to recent progress in the functional role of MT in cellular zinc transport, energy production, and protection of the organism against oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases.

Simple organocopper reagents are shown to undergo anti-stereoselective 1,4-addition to menthyloxy-substituted lactone 1 in the presence of BF3·OEt2; the Lewis acid causes partial epimerisation of the acetal centre after conjugate addition. Enolate alkylation of the adducts leads to di- and trisubstituted lactones that are converted, in favourable cases, into di- and trisubstituted cyclopentenones.

The far infrared spectrum of 1-butyne (ethyl acetylene) has been recorded in the gas phase from 370 to 40 cm −1 with a resolution of 0.1 cm −1 . The skeletal bending fundamental transitions ν 23 ( a ″) and ν 15 ( a ′) give strong bands at 343.6 and 196.5 cm −1 , respectively, showing detailed rotational structure. Transitions of the torsional mode, ν 24 ( a ″), are assigned to prominent Q spikes superimposed on the ν 15 band at 212.8 and 201.5 cm −1 . From these data the coefficients of the periodic potential function are calculated to be 1060 and −30 cm −1 for the V 3 and V 6 terms, respectively.