Page 56 - Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis Vol 1 - Robert & Poignant

the integration of biotransformations into catalyst 39

OH

OH
CO 2 H
OH
OH O
O O O
AcNH Linker−sepharose
HO O O NHAc
OH
OH OH
OH
O
Neu-5Ac Me
OH
Gal
(70)

Fuc

The sharp rise in the number of enzymes capable of promoting coupling
reactions involving carbohydrate moieties mirrors the increased activity and
interest in this field. Obviously this will provide an important niche area where
enzyme-catalysed reactions will probably remain the methodology of choice at
least for the foreseeable future.
So, in the final analysis, biocatalysis should not be considered in a separate
sector available only to the specialist bioorganic chemist. It is one method, in
the portfolio of catalytic techniques, that is available to all chemists for the
solution of present and future problems in organic synthesis. To erect a `Chi-
nese wall' between the natural and non-natural catalysts is totally illogical and
prevents some creative thinking, particularly in the area of coupled natural/
non-natural catalysts [161] and biomimetic systems [162] .

REFERENCES

1. Introduction to Biocatalysis using Enzymes and Microorganisms by Roberts, S.M.,
Turner, N.J., Willetts, A.J. and Turner, M.K. Cambridge University Press, New
York, 1995.
2. Organic Synthesis with Oxidative Enzymes by Holland, H.L., VCH, Weinheim, 1992.
3. An interesting snapshot of work on-going in the mid-1980s is found in the book
Biotransformations in Preparative Organic Chemistry by Davies, H.G., Green, R.H.,
Kelly, D.R. and Roberts, S.M. Academic Press, London, 1989. For a modern work
see Biotransformations by Faber, K. Springer Desktop Edition, 1999 or Biocatalysis
by Fessner, W.-D. Springer Desktop Edition, 1999.
4. Klibanov, A.M. Acc. Chem. Res., 1990, 23, 114, A.M. Koskinen, P. and Klibanov,
A.M. Enzymatic Reactions in Organic Media, Blackie Academic, London, 1996.
5. Enzyme Catalysis in Organic Synthesis, Volumes 1 and 2, eds Drauz, K.-H. and
Waldmann, H., VCH, Weinheim, 1995.