Bioinorganic chemistry is an interdisciplinary research field which centers on metals in biology. Over the past few decades, advances in chemistry, biology as well as in spectroscopic methods have shed light on the role of copper in human pathologies and allowed the growing discovery of copper-containing biological systems. Following this trend, much effort is being constantly chanelled towards understanding these fundamental biological processes or enzymes. In addition, chemists are developing molecules to target copper or copper enzymes as therapeutic tools. On the other hand, inspired by the function of biological systems, small molecular weight complexes inspired by the active site of copper enzymes are being prepared and studied. These bioinspired complexes can function both as mechanistic tools and as functional catalysts for oxidative transformations.The seven chapters in this book, contributed by internationally recognized authors cover recent developments on these aspects illustrated by interdisciplinary fields from biology, chemistry, spectroscopy to bioinspired catalysis. It contains aspects ranging from human health issues (copper homeostasis in bacteria and the development of molecules as anticancer or antibacterial agents) to bioinspired catalysis.

The observation of Nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration to promote innovations in chemistry. The bioinspired approach is a revolution in our paradigms because it is not based on what we can take to nature, but on what we can learn from it. Enzymatic systems involved in solar energy conversion (photosystem), hydrogen production (hydrogenases), dioxygen activation (oxydases et oxygenases), CO2 reduction (CO dehydrogenase) use abundant and cheap starting material such as O2, H2O and CO2. Inspiration of these biological systems is a solution to make our chemical processes greener. These are some of the many challenges that bioinspired chemistry is able to take up.A number of the recent developments in bioinspired chemistry are discussed, including some descriptions on the biological systems that are the source of inspiration. This book is a guide to where bioinspired chemistry will be in the near future and provides a thoughtful perspective on how bioinspiration could change our world.