Enzymes in action : green solutions for chemical problems ; [proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Enzymes in Heteroatom Chemistry (Green Solutions for Chemical Problems), Berg en Dal, the Netherlands, 19-30 June 1999

__Enzymes in Action__ is a timely survey of a modern development in organic chemistry. It is clear that bioreagents demand that organic chemists think in a different way. If they do so, they will open up new avenues of exciting, new chemistry that will permit problems to be solved in an elegant way. The first section covers the concepts necessary to understand enzymes in molecular operations. The second section covers heteroatom enzyme chemistry, with considerable attention being given to the use of enzymes in the detoxification of chemical warfare agents and their application in environmental problems. The final section highlights the strategic use of enzymes in organic chemistry. It is clear that the term `green chemistry' is appropriate, since enzyme mediated processes occur under mild, environmentally benign conditions, and enzymes enable chemists to perform new chemical operations that would otherwise be difficult to achieve at all. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Bio- and Chemo-Catalytic Deracemisation Techniques....Pages 1-23 Enzyme Assisted Routes to Bioactive Molecules....Pages 25-42 Molecular Basis for Empirical Rules that Predict the Stereoselectivity of Hydrolases....Pages 43-69 Functional Group Transformations Mediated by Whole Cells and Strategies for the Efficient Synthesis of Optically Pure Chiral Intermediates....Pages 71-94 Recent Advances on Bioreductions Mediated by Baker’s Yeast and Other Microorganisms....Pages 95-115 Enzymatic Aminolysis and Ammonolysis Reactions....Pages 117-132 Enantioselective Oxidations Catalyzed by Peroxidases and Monooxygenases....Pages 133-160 Hydrolytic Enzymes in The Synthesis of Non-Racemic Heteroorganic Compounds With A Stereogenic Centre on The Heteroatom....Pages 161-191 Biodegradation of Hydrolyzed Chemical Warfare Agents by Bacterial Consortia....Pages 193-209 Biodegradation Of Organophosphorus Nerve Agents by Surface Expressed Organophosphorus Hydrolase....Pages 211-221 Active Site Modifications of Organophosphorus Hydrolase for Improved Detoxification of Organophosphorus Neurotoxins....Pages 223-242 Hydrolysis of Organophosphorus Compounds by Bacterial Prolidases....Pages 243-261 Ancillary Function of Housekeeping Enzymes: Fortuitous Degradation of Environmental Contaminants....Pages 263-286 Field-Deployable Amperometric Enzyme Electrodes for Direct Monitoring of Organophosphate Nerve Agents....Pages 287-296 Environmental Biocatalysis....Pages 297-310 Biocatalytic Synthesis of Alkaloids and Carbohydrates: An Update....Pages 311-321 Bioconversion of Plant Materials: Lipids Proteins and Carbohydrates....Pages 323-345 Enzymatic Regioselective Transformations in Natural Products....Pages 347-363 Stereoselective Biocatalytic Formation of Cyanohydrins, Versatile Building Blocks for Organic Synthesis....Pages 365-395 Enzymes in Polymers and Polymers from Enzymes....Pages 397-431 Application of Enzymes in Synthetic Strategy....Pages 433-448 Green Solutions For Chemical Challenges....Pages 449-458

enzymes In Action Is A Timely Survey Of A Modern Development In Organic Chemistry. It Is Clear That Bioreagents Demand That Organic Chemists Think In A Different Way. If They Do So, They Will Open Up New Avenues Of Exciting, New Chemistry That Will Permit Problems To Be Solved In An Elegant Way.
The First Section Covers The Concepts Necessary To Understand Enzymes In Molecular Operations. The Second Section Covers Heteroatom Enzyme Chemistry, With Considerable Attention Being Given To The Use Of Enzymes In The Detoxification Of Chemical Warfare Agents And Their Application In Environmental Problems. The Final Section Highlights The Strategic Use Of Enzymes In Organic Chemistry.
It Is Clear That The Term 'green Chemistry' Is Appropriate, Since Enzyme Mediated Processes Occur Under Mild, Environmentally Benign Conditions, And Enzymes Enable Chemists To Perform New Chemical Operations That Would Otherwise Be Difficult To Achieve At All.

The increased demand for chiral drugs in enantiomerically pure form, following the release of new FDA's marketing guidelines, turned the search for novel methods for the syntheses of enantiomerically pure compounds (EPC) into a major topic in contemporary organic synthesis [1]. Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Enzymes in Heteroatom Chemistry (Green Solutions for Chemical Problems), held in Berg en Dal, The Netherlands, June 19-30, 1999