Rings of Power: Controlling SOD Mimic Activity by the Addition of Pyridine Rings within the Pyridinophane Scaffold.

Superoxide dismutase enzymes are a major defense against superoxide, which is a potent reactive oxygen species. Misregulation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent neuronal damage are etiological hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease. Macrocyclic small molecules have offered inroads toward functional SOD1 mimics.