Biocatalysis chemical synthesis

Ran, N., Zhao, T., Chen, Z. and Tao, J. (2008) Recent applications of biocatalysis in developing green chemistry for chemical synthesis at industrial scale. Green Chemistry, 10, 361-372. 

Biocatalysis has traditionally been performed in aqueous environments, but this is of limited value for the vast majority of nonpolar reactants used in chemical synthesis. For a long time it was assumed that all organic solvents act as denaturants, primarily based on the flawed extrapolation of data obtained from the exposure of aqueous solutions of enzyme to a few water-miscible solvents, such as alcohols and acetone, to that of all organic sol vents. 

Since pharmaceuticals are becoming increasingly complex molecules, we will keep strengthening our science base in this area too, by combining our internal skills with relevant external expertise in fermentation, biocatalysis, biotransformation, and chemical synthesis. 

Roberts, S. M. Biocatalysis for fine Chemical Synthesis (Wiley, Weinheim, 1999). 

Aaltonen, O. 1999. Enzymatic biocatalysis. Pp. 414-445 in Chemical Synthesis Using Supercritical Fluids (P.G. Jessop and W. Leitner, eds.). Wiley-VCH, New York. 

TABLE 31.3. Comparison of Biocatalysis to Chemical Synthesis for Chemical Production... 

S. M. Roberts, G. Casy, M.-B. Nielsen, S. Phythian, C. Todd, K. Wiggins, Biocatalysis for Fine Chemicals Synthesis, Wiley, New York, 1999. 

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