Scope and Introduction

“Bioinorganic Chemistry“ is at the gate-way of inorganic chemistry and

biochemistry, i.e. It describes the mutual relationship between these
two sub-disciplines, with focus upon the function of inorganic
“substances“ in living systems, including the transport, speciation and,
eventually, mineralisation of inorganic materials, and including the use
of inorganics in medicinal therapy and diagnosis.

These “substances” can be metal ions (such as K+, ferrous

and ferric), composite ions (e.g. molybdate), coordination
compounds (like cisplatin and carbonyltechnetium), or
inorganic molecules such as CO, NO, O3. Medicinal inorganic
chemistry on the one hand, and biomineralisation on the other
hand, are important integral parts.
 Organic chemistry : restricted to carbon compounds
 Biochemistry : chemical components of living systems
 Inorganic chemistry : no covalent carbon components
 Bioinorganic chemistry : biochemical function of “inorganic elements”

Profit from Bioinorganic Chemistry: learning from nature

• Nature: optimized system by evolution
• Efficient collection, conversion and storage of energy
• Moderate conditions during catalytic processes supported by metal
proteins
• Stereoselectivesynthesis
Three main fields of research
•Enzymes, biological relevant complexes: biochemistry and
coordination chemistry
•Biomineralization: biochemistry and solid state (materials) chemistry
•Synthesis and characterization of model systems
The next slide classifies the bio-elements:
Along with the “organic elements” (C, H, O, N, S), building up bio-mass,
many “inorganic elements” play an important role in the physiological
context.
Some of these inorganic elements, such as Fe, Cu and Zn, are present in
(practically) all organisms, others are important for a restricted number of
organisms only.
An additional group of elements are used for diagnostic or therapeutic
applications.
Periodic Table of the bio-elements: elements building up bio-mass, additional
essential elements, essential for some groups of organisms, medicinally
important elements.
 Significance of biologically
important elements (selection)