MODELS OF BIOLOGICAL-SYSTEMS AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Models of folate cofactors have been designed for the biomimetic transfer of a C1-unit at the oxidation levels of formate, formaldehyde and methanol. Suitable models of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate have been employed for investigating mechanistic aspects of the thymidylate synthase and methionine synthase reactions. The functional capability of carbon-transfer of the models has been applied to the evolution of a strategy for practical synthesis.