Delocalization Engineering of Heme‐Mimetic Artificial Enzymes for Augmented Reactive Oxygen Catalysis

Abstract

Developing artificial enzymes based on organic molecules or polymers for reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐related catalysis has broad applicability. Herein, inspired by porphyrin‐based heme mimics, we report the synthesis of polyphthalocyanine‐based conjugated polymers (Fe‐PPc‐AE) as a new porphyrin‐evolving structure to serve as efficient and versatile artificial enzymes for augmented reactive oxygen catalysis. Owing to the structural advantages, such as enhanced π‐conjugation networks and π‐electron delocalization, promoted electron transfer, and unique Fe‐N coordination centers, Fe‐PPc‐AE showed more efficient ROS‐production activity in terms of Vmax and turnover numbers as compared with porphyrin‐based conjugated polymers (Fe‐PPor‐AE), which also surpassed reported state‐of‐the‐art artificial enzymes in their activity. More interestingly, by changing the reaction medium and substrates, Fe‐PPc‐AE also revealed significantly improved activity and environmental adaptivity in many other ROS‐related biocatalytic processes, validating the potential of Fe‐PPc‐AE to replace conventional (poly)porphyrin‐based heme mimics for ROS‐related catalysis, biosensors, or biotherapeutics. It is suggested that this study will offer essential guidance for designing artificial enzymes based on organic molecules or polymers.