Metal-Independent Putative Superoxide Dismutase Mimics in Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine

The excessive generation of superoxide radicals O·−2with inadequate available defence provided by the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) may result in the development and exacerbation of many of mankindʹs common illnesses. The native SOD proves too problematic to be used for the prevention and cure of such diseases. A number of metal-independent synthetic SOD mimics, based on organic nitroxides, have been tried as therapeutic interventions. Among the widely studied mimics, 2-ethyl-2,5,5-trimethyl-3-oxazolidinanyl, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidimyloxy, nitrosoureas, and triazene derivatives have indicated promising results with possible future applications in chemistry, biology, and medicine.