Biocatalysis in Organic Media

Abstract

Enzyme biocatalysis has evolved from reactions of molecular cleavage in aqueous medium, catalyzed mostly by hydrolases dissolved in the reaction medium, to reactions of molecular synthesis in mostly non-conventional (non-aqueous) media. The latter have a higher potential added value, so most research efforts in recent decades have been devoted to establishing technological platforms for biocatalysis in organic synthesis. Enzymes are evolved catalysts, tailored to perform under physiological conditions with exquisite chemical precision. This attribute has been exploited for making these catalysts apt to perform under the stringent conditions of organic synthesis. Several strategies of enzyme stabilization and activation have been developed and successfully applied to myriad reactions in organic synthesis of potential industrial interest. The conditions for synthesis usually require the reaction to be performed in non-aqueous systems, so enzyme biocatalysis in non-conventional media has been a subject of major attention. Interestingly, robust and readily available hydrolases can catalyze the reverse reactions of synthesis when performed in low water activity environments, opening up the opportunity for these well-known catalysts to be used in high added value processes for the synthesis of fine-chemicals, pharmaceuticals and other high-value bioactive molecules. Advances, potential and the limitations of biocatalysis in non-conventional systems for organic synthesis are reviewed with special emphasis on organic media and their compliance with green chemistry.

Biocatalysis for the Synthesis of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Deep Eutectic Solvents: State-of-the-Art and Prospects

“…In this context, the introduction of non-conventional media to enhance substrate loadings may become a straightforward solution for process intensification [31]. The use of non-aqueous solvents not only enables high substrate loadings to adapt to industrial scaleup and commercialization [29,32] but also allows for seamless integration of chemo-enzyme cascades in industry, where, typically, other chemical steps are conducted in non-aqueous media [33]. The systematic development of biotransformations in non-aqueous media dates back to the 1980s, starting with a focus on the workhorse of lipases in organic solvents [34,35], followed by new generations of master solvents including ionic liquids (ILs) and supercritical liquids in the subsequent decades.…”

Isolation and characterization of a novel thermo-solvent-stable lipase from Pseudomonas brenneri and its application in biodiesel synthesis

“…Enzyme biotechnology has progressed from catalysis in an aqueous medium to synthesis in nonaqueous media. Since non-aqueous biocatalysis is preferred for many processes, a significant research effort in recent decades has been devoted to establishing platforms for its enhancement of non-aqueous biocatalysis (Illanes, 2016). However, many enzymes are either inactivated or denatured in organic solvents which limits their usefulness (Kumar et al, 2016).…”