Loxygénation

Loxygénation is a term used in chemistry and biology to denote the introduction of oxygen into a substrate, typically through the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups or by adding oxygen atoms. In French-language literature, it is used to describe processes that generate hydroxyl, carbonyl, epoxide, or peroxide functionalities, among others. The concept encompasses both enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways.

Enzymatic loxygénation relies on oxygenases that incorporate one or two atoms of molecular oxygen into substrates. Notable families include monooxygenases, dioxygenases and cytochrome P450 enzymes, which can perform selective hydroxylation, epoxidation, or ring opening in organic molecules. Other enzymes, such as lipoxygenases, contribute to oxygenation in biological signaling and metabolism. Non-enzymatic routes, often termed autoxidation or photo-oxygenation, involve reactive oxygen species or light-driven processes that add oxygen to substrates without enzymatic control.

The concept plays a central role in metabolism, where drugs and natural products are oxygenated to increase polarity for excretion or to create bioactive metabolites. In organic synthesis, loxygénation serves as a strategy to install hydroxyl groups, epoxides, or carbonyl functionalities, enabling further transformations. Challenges include achieving regio- and stereoselectivity, avoiding over-oxidation, and controlling reaction conditions to prevent undesired side reactions. Overall, loxygénation describes a broad class of oxygen-incorporating transformations with wide applications in biology, pharmacology, and chemical synthesis.