Protein crystal structures with ferrocene and ruthenocene-based enzyme inhibitors.

We have determined the protein X-ray crystal structures of four organometallic inhibitors in complex with their target enzyme carbonic anhydrase II. The barrel-shaped hydrophobic ferrocene and ruthenocene moieties have provided a structure-based avenue to better occupy the hydrophobic binding patch within the enzyme active site. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012