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Related Concept Videos

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds01:29

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds

Oximes can be reduced to primary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, or sodium metal reduction. The reduction of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds to primary amines takes place by either catalytic hydrogenation or by using active metals like Fe, Zn, and Sn in the presence of an acid.
Though catalytic hydrogenation can reduce nitrobenzenes, the reduction is nonselective in the presence of other functional groups. For instance, if nitrobenzene contains an aldehyde group,...
Phase I Reactions: Reductive Reactions01:27

Phase I Reactions: Reductive Reactions

Phase I biotransformation reductive reactions are chemical processes that modify drugs by introducing or revealing polar functional groups via reduction. Enzymes called reductases catalyze these reactions, playing a pivotal role in drug metabolism by transforming lipophilic drugs into more polar, water-soluble metabolites for easy excretion. An essential type of reductive reaction is the carbonyl group reduction, where aldehydes and ketones are reduced to alcohols. An example is the...
Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles01:13

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles

Nitriles can be reduced to primary amines using reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride or catalytic hydrogenation. The reduction introduces an amino group with an extra carbon in the skeleton. Nitriles are formed from the reaction between alkyl halides and sodium cyanide through the SN2 mechanism. Primary alkyl halides are the preferred substrates to prepare nitriles.
Amides can be reduced to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, active metals like Fe,...
Drug Biotransformation: Overview01:16

Drug Biotransformation: Overview

Pharmaceutical substances known as xenobiotics are predominantly lipophilic and nonionized. This enables them to permeate lipid bilayers, such as cell membranes, and interact with intracellular target receptors. Lipophilic drugs have an advantage in crossing biological barriers and reaching their intended sites of action. However, lipophilic drugs often have a restricted capacity for renal expulsion or elimination from the body. When these drugs enter the kidneys and undergo glomerular...
Drug Biotransformation: Overview01:28

Drug Biotransformation: Overview

Biotransformation, also known as drug metabolism, is a vital physiological process that chemically alters drugs, facilitating their elimination from the body and terminating their action. This process involves two main phases: phase I and phase II reactions. Phase I reactions, including oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis, introduce or unmask polar functional groups on the drug molecule, thereby increasing its water solubility. By enhancing water solubility, the drug becomes more hydrophilic...
Preparation of Nitriles01:12

Preparation of Nitriles

One of the common methods to prepare nitriles is the dehydration of amides. This method requires strong dehydrating agents like phosphorous pentoxide or boiling acetic anhydride for converting amides to nitriles. Another reagent namely, thionyl chloride also accomplishes the dehydration of amides, where amide acts as a nucleophile. The first step of the mechanism involves the nucleophilic attack by the amide on the thionyl chloride to form an intermediate. In the next step, the electron pairs...

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A General Method for Detecting Nitrosamide Formation in the In Vitro Metabolism of Nitrosamines by Cytochrome P450s
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Developments in nitrile and amide biotransformation processes.

Harshad Velankar1, Kim G Clarke, Ryne du Preez

  • 1Department of Process Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa. kclarke@sun.ac.za

Trends in Biotechnology
|September 14, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Nitrile and amide bioconversions are key for producing valuable chemicals. Optimizing biocatalyst reuse via immobilization, especially membrane techniques, enhances process efficiency and scale-up potential.

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Published on: January 21, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Biocatalysis
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Biotechnology

Background:

  • Nitrile and amide bioconversions are crucial for synthesizing commercially valuable chemicals.
  • Various biocatalytic strategies exist, including whole cells, cell extracts, and isolated enzymes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the performance of different biocatalysts (whole cells, cell extracts, enzymes) for nitrile and amide bioconversions.
  • To evaluate the benefits and matrices for biocatalyst reuse through immobilization.
  • To identify strategies for optimizing process performance and scale-up.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of whole cells, cell extracts, and enzymes as biocatalysts.
  • Evaluation of different immobilization matrices for enhancing biocatalyst stability and reusability.
  • Assessment of process parameters influencing reaction kinetics and efficiency.

Main Results:

  • Immobilization significantly enhances biocatalyst stability and reusability, crucial for industrial application.
  • Membrane immobilization is identified as a highly effective strategy for maximizing process performance.
  • Optimized process conditions, including high substrate concentrations, improve reaction kinetics.

Conclusions:

  • Biocatalyst immobilization, particularly using membrane technology, is vital for efficient and scalable nitrile and amide bioconversions.
  • Further optimization of biocatalytic potential, process performance, and scale-up capacity is essential for commercial exploitation.