CHAPTER 3. Biocatalytic Synthesis of Small Molecules – Past, Present and Future

Abstract

The synthesis of small molecules has played a central role from the foundations of organic chemistry through the science of synthesis and the chemistry-based industries to the interest in small molecules in a comprehensive understanding of the molecular biology of biological cells and the creation of life-science-based industries. More than 150 years after the fundamental discoveries, biocatalytic conversions of racemates into pure enantiomers continue to be highly important as a platform technology for industrial syntheses of enantiomerically pure small molecules. Enantioselective biocatalytic desymmetrizations to chiral compounds are particularly attractive due to the biocatalyst’s molecular recognition of one of two symmetric functional groups in meso- or prochiral substrates. Biocatalytic asymmetric oxidations and reductions of small molecules have now become superior platform technologies due to major benefits in selectivity, safety, health and environment issues of the biocatalytic processes. Biocatalytic asymmetric hydrolysis and acylation reactions remain highly successful industrial reactions. Biocatalytic asymmetric transfer reactions are emerging for the highly selective transfer of a number of functional groups in resource-efficient ways. This molecular economy is also demonstrated in selective biocatalytic addition and elimination reactions. The summary and outlook of the chapter looks at the bright future and opportunities for the biocatalytic synthesis of small molecules.