Homogeneous Catalysis and Enzyme Mimics Catecholase, Phenoxazine Synthase and Tyrosinase Pathways

¹ University Mohammed Premier, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Environment and Applied Chemistry (LCAE), Oujda, Morocco.
² University Mohammed Premier, Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador, Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry, Materials and Environment (LMCME), Nador - Morocco

^* Correspondence: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (O. Riouchi)

Abstract

Biomimetic catalysis is a paradigmatic approach to overcoming the gulf between nature’s enzymic efficiency and synthetically obtained diversity. Synthetic catalysts now achieve high selectivity in significant chemical transformations from organic synthesis to medicinal chemistry by exactly imitating enzyme active site structure and mechanism-dependent properties. Remarkably, catecholase and tyrosinase analogs have enabled green oxidation routes that are more efficient than conventional high-energy-sucking processes. Advances in porous materials—particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs)—extend catalytic recyclability and mild-condition reactivity further, typically employing ambient oxygen and water solvents to minimize the environmental impact. Beyond chemical synthesis, biomimetic nanozymes are revolutionizing biomedicine. These systems offer stable, tunable alternatives to natural enzymes in diagnostic analysis, oxidative stress relief, and targeted drug delivery, which address age-old therapeutics specificity challenges. However, critical issues remain, including deactivation of catalysts under working conditions and scalability issues. Recent advances combine computational modeling, ligand engineering, and hybrid bio-inorganic architectures to optimize stability and activity. This review synthesizes state-of-the-art developments in homogeneous and enzyme-mimetic catalysts, emphasizing their mechanistic diversity and applications. We critically evaluate outstanding limitations—reaction selectivity and industrial compatibility—while outlining future directions. The integration of biomimetic principles can redefine sustainable chemistry, from industrial processes to future medicines, and emphasize its pivotal position in addressing global scientific and environmental issues.