The concept of sustainable economy is attracting increased attention in all social aspects, especially in industrial production. An example of sustainable economy is the global exploitation of natural resources, taking place through the recovery of by-products and/or waste generated by agricultural or industrial activity. One of the main current challenges of the industrial sector is the development of products that can fulfill new markets requirements with an ecological commitment. Up-today, the society is convinced of the needs of consuming products which have been produced through environmentally friendly processes.

The non-renewable nature of fossil fuels makes the current economic model unsustainable. For this reason, it is becoming increasingly important the bio-refinery of lignocellulosic materials, also called second-generation bio-refinery. This kind of bio-refinery use low cost vegetable biomass with no commercial added value. The use of plant biomass as raw material is intended to take advantage of all its derived fractions, obtaining fuels (such as bio-ethanol or biodiesel) and various chemical products of commercial interest (products for cosmetic, food, pharmacy, polyphenols, etc.), producing a maximum plant biomass valorization and a minimization of the residues production. In a bio-refinery, through different processes (physical, chemical and/or biological), biomass is transformed into a wide range of products with high added value. The whole process includes the obtaining of carbohydrates, lignin and other products into fuels, high value-added chemicals and other materials, with an approach to the prospect of not generating waste and with processes that ideally involve minimal energy and environmental impact.

Our interests focus on coordination chemistry, organometallic complex and phthalocyanine complex. While the coordination of small molecules to metal centers is relatively well understood, the effect of complex ligand and their metallo structure are still an area of intense investigation. Our research examines complex coordination environments, such as phthalocyanine, porphrazine and vic dioxime.

• Synthesis, Characterization

• Electrochemistry

• Spectelectrochemistry

Vast numbers of studies have been performed for chemical reactions and equilibria in the bulk solution and on surfaces of solid or between solution and solution, which have been accounted for by traditional theories. However, exploring each case in detail, one may notice that ordinary chemical thought, that is, reaction model schemes in dilute solution are not enough to explain the phenomena fully. Specific chemical reactions or equilibria may be encountered in aqueous solutions containing concentrated salts, involving surface, or in non-aqueous solvents and at higher temperatures. Although such “extraordinary phenomena” have been examined repeatedly, the origin remains still unknown. The aim of this special issuer is to provide some clues for elucidating the causes of unknown phenomena by approaching with new viewpoints or novel methods to chemical reactions and equilibria in solutions and surfaces. New reaction field for chemical syntheses can be developed with the new findings.

The design of metal complexes with excellent therapeutic index appears empirical. Interest has greatly enhanced towards synthesis of potential metal-based anti-parasitic drugs. The growth of research in this area of need of the masses due to high resistance of available drugs to combat the major tropical diseases is of great concern.

This issue is expected to publish articles that will describe synthesis of efficacious metal drugs that will provide effective solution to parasitic diseases. This edition is to cover synthetic routes towards metal-drug synergism. The authors are expected to provide greater and deeper in-depth knowledge of the structures and methodology of the proposed chemotherapeutic agents vis-à-vis metal-drug complexes. The enhancement of activity of these therapeutic agents through metal complexation is significant. The synthetic strategy and procedures utilized towards achieving pharmacological action of the drugs that might have led to acceptable pharmacological models of therapeutic agents cannot be over emphasized in this special issue.

Approximately one-third of all proteins contain one or more metal ions. Metalloproteins are distributed ubiquitously in Nature where they perform numerous functions such as catalysis, metal transport and storage, electron transport and storage, dioxygen transport and storage, signal transduction and transcription. A broad spectrum techniques and expertise must be employed in unraveling the structure, functions of metalloproteins and the chemistry of metals in the cell. For this special issue we seek research articles, communications and reviews with focus on any areas of metals in biology, bioinorganic chemistry.