Biocatalysis and Applications in Organic Synthesis

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Biocatalysis and Background Information
   1. History, Mechanistic aspects- Kinetics Michaelis-Menten
   2. Advantages-Disadvantages of Biocatalysts- Isolated enzymes versus whole cell systems
   3. Search for new enzymes-Modern technologies
   4. Protein engineering: Directed mutagenesis and random mutagenesis
2. ΙI. Biocatalytic Applications
   1. Applications of enzymes in asymmetric organic synthesis
   2. Dynamic kinetic resolutions (DKR
   3. Deracemization and enantioconvergent processes
   4. Enzymatic hydrolytic reactions
      1. Mechanistic and kinetic aspect
      2. Ester hydrolysis, Ester alcoholysis-Transesterification, Hydrolysis of nitriles, Hydrolysis of epoxides
   5. Enzymatic reductions
      1. Cofactor recycling
      2. Reduction of aldehydes and ketones, Reduction of C=C bonds
      3. Bioreductions in multienzymatic one-pot cascade processes\\
      4.  Applications of bioreductions in the synthesis of APIs
   6. Enzymatic oxidation reactions
      1. Oxidation of alcohols and amines
      2. Oxygenation reactions of non-activated carbons, Hydroxylation of alkanes or aromatic compounds, Epoxidation of alkenes, Baeyer-Villiger oxidations, Formation of peroxides, Peroxidation reactions, Formation of C-C bonds, Aldol reactions,
      3. Michael-type additions
      4. Enzymatic formation of C-N bond
3. Comparison of Biological and Chemical Catalysts for Innovative Processes
   1. Retrosynthetic approach to biocatalytic organic syntheses
   2. Criteria for the use of biocatalytic processes- Jacobsen’s five criteria

Learning Outcomes

Through the course, postgraduate students will acquire the necessary knowledge about Biocatalysis, as an alternative, often complementary methodology to classical organic synthesis. Included is the presentation of specific biocatalytic processes that have been established in organic synthesis. Knowledge about the application possibilities of biocatalysis in combination with chemocatalysis, for the synthesis of high added value products of industrial interest will be gained. Examples of biocatalysis applications from the chemical and pharmaceutical industry are presented.

The students, after the successful completion of the course

• they will possess the basic principles for the use of enzymes in organic transformations
• they will have familiarized themselves with the main types of biocatalytic processes used both on a laboratory and industrial scale
• they will have learned where biocatalysis can be applied in organic synthesis