Insulin configurational studies

We shall prepare the various building blocks of the catalyst surface and study them separately. Then we put the parts together and the resultant structure should have all of the properties of the working catalyst particle. Just as in the case of synthetic insulin or the B12 molecule, the proof that the synthesis was successful is in the identical performance of the synthesized and natural products. Our building blocks are crystal surfaces with well-characterized atomic surface structure and composition. Cutting these crystals in various directions permits us to vary their surface structure systematically and to study the chemical reactivity associated with each surface structure. If we do it properly, all of the surface sites and microstructures with unique chemical activity can be identified this way. Then, by preparing a surface where all of these sites are simultaneously present in the correct configurations and concentrations the chemical behavior of the catalyst particle can be reproduced. The real value of this synthetic approach is that ultimately one should be able to synthesize a catalyst that is much more selective since we build into it only the desirable active sites in a controlled manner. 

---