The Hitchhiker's guide to biocatalysis: recent advances in the use of enzymes in organic synthesis

Enzymes are excellent catalysts that are increasingly being used in industry and academia. This Perspective provides a general and practical guide to enzymes and their synthetic potential, primarily aimed at synthetic organic chemists.

Medium-engineering: a useful tool for modulating lipase activity and selectivity

The design of a specific reaction medium capable to enhance activity, stability, and productivity of biocatalysts has been a recurring topic of study during the last three decades. The remarkable properties and valuable applications of enzymes, especially lipases, have inspiried different strategies for improving their performance in near-anhydrous media. As lipases are the most frequently used enzymes in organic synthesis, understanding the influence of reaction media on their activity and selectivity is crucial. In this paper, we review the key features of lipases and demonstrate how medium-engineering is a useful tool to modulate the activity and selectivity of lipase-catalyzed reactions.