Photochemically-induced dioxygenase-type CO-release reactivity of group 12 metal flavonolate complexes

Exposure of 3-hydroxyflavonolate complexes of the group 12 metals to UV light under aerobic conditions results in oxidative carbon-carbon bond cleavage and CO release. This reactivity is novel in that it occurs under mild reaction conditions and suggests that light-induced CO-release reactivity involving metal flavonolate species may be possible in biological systems.