Water-soluble polymer-bound biomimetic analogues of cytochrome C oxidase catalyze 4e- reduction of O2 to water.

Activity toward catalytic O(2) reduction by polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyvinylpyridine (PVP) polymers containing functional analogues of the O(2)-reducing site of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) has been studied in solution and on the electrode surface. Pronounced effects of the porphyrin microenvironment on the selectivity and turnover frequency of the catalysts were observed.