Synthetic approaches using preassembled clusters as building blocks are described as a means to identify the critical features of the reactive sites in catalytic metalloenzymes.

D. Coucouvanis, "Use of preassembled Fe/S and Fe/Mo/S clusters in the stepwise synthesis of potential analogues for the Fe/Mo/S site in nitrogenase," Accounts of Chemical Research, 24, 1-9, January 1991. (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)

A concise summary covers the panoply of techniques involving enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

I.C. Cotterill, G. Dorman, K. Faber, R. Jaouhari, et al., "Chemoenzymatic, enantiocomplementary, total asymmetric synthesis of leukotriene-B3 and leukotriene-B4," Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications, 23, 1161-4, 1 December 1990. (University of Exeter, England; University of Salford, England; et al.)

One of the first practical methods for asymmetric synthesis involves titanium tartrate-catalyzed epoxidation of allylic alcohols in which enantifacial selection can be predicted from an empirical rule. Two back-to-back articles constitute a thorough physical organic study that establishes...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

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?