Vanadium is named after Vanadis, the most aristocratic of Norse goddesses, who symbolises beauty and fertility - essential features of vanadium chemistry. It is a ubiquitous trace element, with a surprising range of biological functions.

In Bioinorganic Vanadium Chemistry, Dieter Rehder addresses the major aspects of  vanadium chemistry related to living organisms and the mutual impact between biological and inorganic vanadium chemistry. Topics covered include:



the history, natural occurrence, distribution and impact of vanadium
inorganic aspects of the function of vanadium in biological systems
interaction of aqueous vanadate and vanadyl with biogenic ligands
vanadium coordination compounds
the vanadium-carbon bond
methods of characterisation of biogenic and model vanadium systems (EPR and ENDOR for oxovanadium(IV); 51V NMR for vanadium(V); XAS)
vanadium in ascidians and polychaeta worms
the concentration of vanadium in the form of amavadin by Amanita mushrooms
vanadate-dependent haloperoxidases
vanadium and the nitrogen cycle
vanadate as energiser for bacteria, and vanadophores
medicinal aspectsm including the anti-diabetic potential of vanadium compounds
interaction of vanadium with proteins and protein substrates
vanadium and phosphate-metabolising enzymes

Bioinorganic Vanadium Chemistry conveys the essential aspects of vanadium bioinorganic chemistry, making this book a valuable complement to more general bioinorganic chemistry texts and more specialized topical reviews for researchers and students alike.