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Atypical Structural and π‐Electron Features of a Melanin Polymer That Lead to Superior Free‐Radical‐Scavenging Properties

2013; Wiley; Volume: 52; Issue: 48 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/anie.201305747

1521-3773

Lucia Panzella, Gennaro Gentile, Gerardino D’Errico, Nicola F. Della Vecchia, Maria Emanuela Errico, Alessandra Napolitano, Cosimo Carfagna, Marco d’Ischia,

Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques

The black we wear: Why nature selected 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) to synthesize (photo)protective eumelanin pigments is an enigma. Synthetic DHICA eumelanin has now been shown to be a highly efficient free-radical scavenger in the solid state, which is due to a conformationally interrupted π-electron network associated with atypical optical, paramagnetic, and aggregation properties.