Metal complex in polymer membrane as a model for photosynthetic oxygen evolving center

Photosynthesis is attracting attention as an important model of artificial photochemical conversion system in relevant to solar energy conversion for new energy resources. In the photosynthesis, dioxygen evolution is the most important process which provides electrons to the whole photochemical system. Several proposals have been put forward to elucidate the mechanism in the dioxygen formation from two water molecules and four molecules of one-electron oxidation catalyst. The protein part of the oxygen evolving center plays an important role for the catalysis. However, these mechanisms remain the most obscure part of plant photosynthesis. In order to construct artificial photosynthesis for the future energy source, it is important to utilize heterogeneous system such as polymer aggregates. The present authors have established new and active water oxidation catalysts as models for the photosynthesis especially by using heterogeneous polymer systems.