Hydroxylation of steroids with an artificial P-450 catalyst bearing synthetic cyclophanes as binding groups

A novel catalyst has been synthesized in which a manganese-porphyrin unit is linked to four hydrophobic cyclophane binding groups. Relative to a previous catalyst in which the binding groups were cyclodextrins, the new catalyst shows somewhat higher catalytic turnovers before it is destroyed, but less selective precinct formation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.