Biotransformations In Organic Chemistry

The use of natural catalysts - enzymes - for the transformation of non-natural man-made organic compounds is not at all new: they have been used for more than one hundred years, employed either as whole cells, cell organelles or isolated enzymes [1]. Certainly, the object of most of the early research was totally different from that of the present day. Thus the elucidation of biochemical pathways and enzyme mechanisms was the main reason for research some decades ago. It was mainly during the 1980s that the enormous potential of applying natural catalysts to transform non-natural organic compounds was recognized. What started as a trend in the late 1970s could almost be called a fashion in synthetic organic chemistry in the 1990s. Although the early euphoria during the 'gold rush' in this field seems to have eased somewhat, there is still no limit to be seen for the future development of such methods. As a result of this extensive, recent research, there have been all estimated 8000 papers published on the subject [2-14]. To collate these data as a kind of 'super-review' would clearly be an impossible task and, furthermore, such a hypothetical book would be unpalatable for the non-expert.

The use of biocatalysts offers a remarkable arsenal of highly selective transformations for modern preparative organic chemistry. This book provides a basis for biocatalysts and a condensed introduction to the field. After a basic introduction into the use of biocatalysts, the principles of stereoselective transformations, kinetics, and enzyme handling are discussed, and the different types of reactions are explained according to the "reaction principle". This fourth edition includes new chapters on peroxidase reactions and on the handling of biocatalysts.

The use of natural catalysts -enzymes -for the transformation of non-natural man-made organic compounds is not at all new: they have been used for more than one hundred years, employed either as whole cells, cell organelles or isolated enzymes [1, 2]. Certainly, the object of most of the early research was totally different from that of the present day. Thus the elucidation of biochemical pathways and enzyme mechanisms was the main reason for research some decades ago. It was mainly during the 1980s that the enormous potential of applying natural catalysts to transform non-natural organic compounds was recognized. What started as a trend in the late 1970s could almost be called a fashion in synthetic organic chemistry in the 1990s. Although the early euphoria during the 'gold rush' in this field seems to have eased somewhat, there is still no limit to be seen for the future development of such methods. As a result of this extensive, recent research, there have been an estimated 12000 papers published on the subject. To collate these data as a kind of 'super-review' would clearly be an impossible task and, furthermore, such a hypothetical book would be unpalatable for the non-expert [3-6].

The use of biocatalysts, employed either as isolated enzymes or whole microbial cells, offers a remarkable arsenal of highly selective transformations for state-of-the-art synthetic organic chemistry. Over the last two decades, this methodology has become an indispensable tool for asymmetric synthesis, not only at the academic level, but also on an industrial scale. This well-established textbook on biocatalysis provides a basis for undergraduate and graduate courses in modern organic chemistry, as well as a condensed introduction into this field. After a basic introduction into the use of biocatalysts—principles of stereoselective transformations, enzyme properties and kinetics—the different types of reactions are explained according to the 'reaction principle', such as hydrolysis, reduction, oxidation, C–C bond formation, etc. Special techniques, such as the use of enzymes in organic solvents, immobilization techniques and modified or artificial enzymes, are treated in a separate section. A final chapter deals with thebasic rules for the safe and practical handling of biocatalysts. In this completely revised 6th edition, emphasis has been given to an improved didactic style including colored graphics in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of the underlying principles. New developments, such as transamination, enzyme promiscuity and applications on industrial scale within the field of 'white biotechnology' are included.

Whereas the hydrolases such as proteases, esterases and lipases are sufficiently well researched to be applied in every standard laboratory, other types of enzymes are still waiting to be discovered with respect to their applicability in organic-chemistry transformations on a preparative scale. This latter point is stressed here, with the focus on the newcomer-enzymes'which show great synthetic potential.

This text is part of the Biochemical and Medicinal Chemistry Series Series Editor: John Mann, Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Reading The aim of this series of short textbooks is to present full accounts of topics which are at the interface of chemistry and biology, from medicinal chemistry to molecular biology. The topics chosen for inclusion are popular subjects for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate modular courses, and yet they receive inadequate coverage in traditional textbooks of organic chemistry and of biochemistry. Each text in the series provides a concise and up to date introduction to its subject in an attractive format. Biotransformations utilize biological systems to carry out chemical transformations. The use of both isolated enzymes and whole organisms in biotransformations is considered . Such processes are playing an increasingly important role in both the research laboratory and in industry because biotransformations occur under mild, 'environmentally friendly' conditions and they have a selectivity which often differs from that encountered with syntheses using traditional laboratory reagents.This accessible introduction to this growing field provides an up-to-date account of those situations in which biotransformations may present viable alternatives to purely chemical synthetic routes or be used in a complimentary manner to chemical reagents in a multi-step organic synthesis. Dr Hanson's concise introduction tothis burgeoning field covers, in addition to enzymatic and microbial methods, the biotransformation of drugs in humans. It is suitable as a course text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of chemistry and the biomedical sciences. No previous knowledge of biotransformations is assumed.

This volume is designed for chemists working in an organic chemistry laboratory and for all scientists with an interest in biotransformations. It summarizes the important aspects of work in the burgeoning field of biotransformations, th...[missing text]