Metalloporphyrin and heteropoly acid catalyzed oxidation of CNOH bonds in an ionic liquid: biomimetic models of nitric oxide synthase

Water soluble iron(III) porphyrins and phosphotungstic acid in an ionic liquid are effective catalysts for the H₂O₂ mediated oxidation of the CNOH bond in N-hydroxyarginine and other oximes. The carbonyl compounds generated as the oxidation products can be easily isolated from the reaction media. These systems serve as biomimetic models of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the catalyst immobilized in an ionic liquid can be easily recycled and reused.