Bio- and chemocatalysis combined for green chemistry
Chemist Professor Dr. Harald Gröger of Bielefeld University is a pioneer in the field of so-called one-pot chemoenzymatic synthesis. The concept describes the performance of several reactions without separation steps in one reactor, combining conventional chemocatalysts and environmentally friendly biocatalysts (enzymes). This dovetailing makes production processes more efficient and reduces waste. Together with colleagues from the U.S. University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, Gröger has published a paper on such efficient syntheses in the journal Chemical Reviews.
If both catalysts are to function in a single reactor, a common reaction medium is needed. For Gröger and his colleagues, water is the solution: "Water is cheap, available in large quantities and environmentally friendly," says the chemist. While most enzymes need water to drive reactions anyway, chemocatalysts are routinely used in organic solvents. Such solvents as ethers or alkanes, however, can deactivate enzymes. "But if we manage to stay in water, we could in principle use all the enzymes that exist. We could thereby in principle use the whole spectrum of enzymes in nature, saving energy and waste."
Combining different approaches
For this to work, the three scientists are tackling both sides: "On the one hand, we have to get enzymes to convert unnatural starting materials with high productivity. To do this, we also partially change the structure of the enzymes and the DNA of the microorganisms that produce the enzymes. And on the other hand, we need to design the chemical catalyst to be able to perform reactions in water."
With their review paper, the authors bring together their research findings with those of what are now numerous research groups working in this field. "It was exciting to work on the publication as a trio," says Gröger, because: The three didn't know each other before and have different approaches. Professor Bruce H. Lipshutz, Ph.D., of the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been researching the field of chemical synthesis in water for years. Dr. Fabrice Gallou is an industrial chemist at the Novartis pharmaceutical company in Switzerland, working to make catalysis processes compatible for industry.
Green chemistry from the raw material
The one-pot synthesis approach is in line with the principles of green chemistry, an area of research that has gained attention, especially in recent years. "Industry's interest in sustainable production is growing, and with it the number of researchers," says Gröger. But it doesn't just stop at optimizing processes: Crude oil currently forms the basis of numerous everyday products, while also contributing massively to climate change. "Renewable raw materials can be used to significantly reduce the carbon footprint and also to design new materials," says the scientist, describing a second major area of his research work at Bielefeld University.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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Topic world Synthesis
Chemical synthesis is at the heart of modern chemistry and enables the targeted production of molecules with specific properties. By combining starting materials in defined reaction conditions, chemists can create a wide range of compounds, from simple molecules to complex active ingredients.
Topic world Synthesis
Chemical synthesis is at the heart of modern chemistry and enables the targeted production of molecules with specific properties. By combining starting materials in defined reaction conditions, chemists can create a wide range of compounds, from simple molecules to complex active ingredients.
