Application of Organotransition Metal Carbonyl Complexes as Infrared Markers for Hormonal Steroids in Biological Processes

Abstract

The explosive development over the past 25 years in the use of organotransition metal complexes as reagents in organic synthesis is due chiefly to the fact that it is possible to coordinate a metal-containing fragment temporarily to an organic moiety so that the chemical reactivity of the organic moiety is modified sufficiently for reactions to occur which previously were difficult or impossible to achieve by classical routes.¹ There are now several processes based on the intermediacy of organometallic species that have become industrially important in such diverse areas as biology, agricultural chemisty, and pharmacology.² For example, optically active organorhodium(1) complexes catalyze the selective hydrogenation of prochiral N-acylaminocinnamic acids in the Monsanto production of I-DOPA, an important drug widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.³ Also, useful ceramic materials have recently been produced by the thermal decomposition of organ-ometallic precursors.⁴ Organometallic chemistry is therefore expected to provide the chemical industry with many future challenges.

Key Words:

• hormones
• steroids
• metal carbonyls
• infrared spectroscopy
• protein receptors