The taming of oxygen: biocatalytic oxyfunctionalisations

Area of Science:

• Biocatalysis
• Organic Chemistry
• Enzymology

Background:

• Oxygenases are enzymes that catalyze the incorporation of oxygen into organic molecules.
• Their application in organic synthesis offers sustainable and selective transformations.
• Understanding their scope and limitations is crucial for effective utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the scope of oxygenases in preparative organic synthesis.
• To identify the limitations hindering their broader application.
• To provide insights for future development and utilization of oxygenases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of oxygenase-catalyzed reactions.
• Analysis of substrate scope and reaction conditions.
• Evaluation of enzyme stability, selectivity, and scalability.

Main Results:

• Oxygenases demonstrate broad applicability in various oxidation reactions.
• Limitations include cofactor requirements, enzyme stability, and substrate specificity.
• Challenges remain in scaling up oxygenase-catalyzed processes for industrial applications.

Conclusions:

• Oxygenases offer significant potential as green catalysts in organic synthesis.
• Further research is needed to overcome current limitations for wider adoption.
• Optimizing enzyme engineering and process design will enhance their preparative utility.