School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy.
Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito-Due, 67100 L'Aquila (AQ), Italy.
Molecules. 2020 Jul 6;25(13):3073. doi: 10.3390/molecules25133073.
For a long time the biological role of vanadium was not known, while now the possibility of using its derivatives as potential therapeutic agents has given rise to investigations on their probable side effects. Vanadium compounds may inhibit different biochemical processes and lead to a variety of toxic effects and serious diseases. But, on the other hand, vanadium is an essential element for life. In recent years, increasing evidence has been acquired on the possible roles of vanadium in the higher forms of life. Despite several biochemical and physiological functions that have been suggested for vanadium and notwithstanding the amount of the knowledge so far accumulated, it still does not have a clearly defined role in the higher forms of life. What functions could vanadium or its very stable oxidovanadium(IV) derivatives have had in the prebiotic world and in the origins of life? In this review, we have briefly tried to highlight the most useful aspects that can be taken into consideration to give an answer to this still unresolved question and to show the high versatility of the oxidovanadium(IV) group to act as promoter of several oxidation reactions when coordinated with a variety of ligands, including diketones like acylpyrazolones.
长期以来，钒的生物学作用一直不为人知，而现在其衍生物作为潜在治疗剂的可能性引发了对其可能的副作用的研究。钒化合物可能抑制不同的生化过程，并导致各种毒性作用和严重疾病。但是，另一方面，钒是生命所必需的元素。近年来，越来越多的证据表明钒可能在高等生物中发挥作用。尽管已经提出了几种关于钒的生物化学和生理学功能，并且到目前为止已经积累了大量的知识，但它在高等生物中仍然没有明确的作用。在原始生命世界中，钒或其非常稳定的氧化钒(IV)衍生物可能具有什么功能？在这篇综述中，我们简要地试图强调最有用的方面，可以考虑这些方面来回答这个尚未解决的问题，并展示氧化钒(IV)基团的高度多功能性，当与各种配体（包括二酮如酰基吡唑啉酮）配位时，作为几种氧化反应的促进剂。
