Synthesis of a Mimic of Cytochrome P-450 and its Reaction with Synthetic Pyrethroids

Isolation of natural enzymes is cumbersome and these molecules are relatively unstable under laboratory conditions, therefore, attempts have been made to synthesize an analogue of cytochrome P-450. A synthetic model of cytochrome P-450 was prepared in the laboratory and was used for studying oxidative degradation of synthetic pyrethroids. The catalyst was characterized by ultra violet visible spectroscopy of TPP and TPPMn(lll)CI at wavelength ranging from 300 to 700 nm. Technical grade pyrethroids, namely fenvalerate, beta-cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fenpropathrin and etofenprox were reacted separately with the combination of hydrogen peroxide and TPPMn(lll)CI at room temperature. Rf of the products after the reaction of fenvalerate and other pyrethroids with oxidants showed that more polar compounds, having a lower Rf value than the Rf of the pyrethroids, were formed. Only hydrogen peroxide and TPPMn(lll)CI combination could degrade stereoisomers of fenvalerate as shown by the reduction in the amount of fenvalerate quantified by HPLC.