Biocatalysis: recent developments in enzymatic transformations

16 Apr

Prof. Martina Contente, Università degli Studi di Milano

EMAIL: martina.contente@unimi.it

May 1– June 30, 2025

18 h, 3 CFU

Biocatalysis has established itself as an indispensable tool for API synthesis as it offers a number of advantages: Firstly, optimized enzymes as biocatalysts typically deliver superior regio-, stereo-, and enantioselectivity. Secondly, biocatalysis can significantly shorten multi-step synthesis routes by allowing reactions and reaction sequences, which cannot be carried out with classical chemical means. Thirdly, biocatalysis is generally associated with mild reaction conditions.

Continuous flow biocatalysis is also attracting a considerable attention, also from industries and it represents the ultimate evolution of continuous processing. Flow-chemistry increases the sustainability of a process, specially when the “waste” can be also recycled. In this course, the basic principles of selected biocatalytic transformations, enzyme immobilization strategies and some examples of synthetic applications will be discussed