Chemistry

A.M. Klibanov, Asymmetric transformations cataluzed by enzymes in organic solvents, Accounts of Chemical Research, 23:114-120, 1990. Alexander M. Kilbanov (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge): Recent studies have firmly established that, in contrast to the conventional wisdom, enzymes can work as catalysts in organic solvents containing little or no water. Not only do enzymes retain their catalytic integrity in such media, but also, when placed in this unnatural milieu, they exhi


Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

A.M. Klibanov, Asymmetric transformations cataluzed by enzymes in organic solvents, Accounts of Chemical Research, 23:114-120, 1990.

Alexander M. Kilbanov (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge): Recent studies have firmly established that, in contrast to the conventional wisdom, enzymes can work as catalysts in organic solvents containing little or no water. Not only do enzymes retain their catalytic integrity in such media, but also, when placed in this unnatural milieu, they exhibit remarkable properties such as greatly enhanced thermostability, radically altered substrated and stereo specificities, molecular memory, and the ability to catalyze new reactions. Conseqently, numerous exciting applications of enzymes as catalysts in organic chemisry are emerging, including facile resolution of racemic mixtures, synthesis of optically active compounds, reioselective modfication of sugars and steroids, asymmetric oxidoreductions, peptide synthesis, polymerization processes. Enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents should benefit industrial production of pharmaceutical compounds, novel food ingredients, and advanced materials."

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo
New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

Sino

Products

Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Explore a Concise Guide to Optimizing Viral Transduction

A Visual Guide to Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Takara Bio
Inventia Life Science

Inventia Life Science Launches RASTRUM™ Allegro to Revolutionize High-Throughput 3D Cell Culture for Drug Discovery and Disease Research

An illustration of differently shaped viruses.

Detecting Novel Viruses Using a Comprehensive Enrichment Panel

Twist Bio