The Application of Biocatalysis in Synthesis
The increasing complexity of pharmaceuticals such as the presence of one or more chiral centres or the need for differential modification of multiply substituted structures (eg polyols) presents a significant challenge to the synthetic chemist. Whilst the range of reagents and catalysts available to the medicinal chemist to address these challenges is large, the options available to the process chemist are much more limited due to cost, environmental and operational safety considerations.
Traditionally enantiomers have been separated after formation of a diastereomeric salt or derivative but these processes are wasteful or raw materials and often exhibit low yields as a result of less than perfect selectivity. For problems of this type the use of Nature’s biocatalysts (enzymes) can offer significant advantages due to their exquisite selectivities. Historically, the study and use of enzymes has been largely the domain of the biochemist whose interest is in understanding the structure and biological function of enzymes, consequently the application of enzymes in synthesis had been limited until relatively recently. However, an increasing interest from the organic chemistry community coupled with rapid developments in biotechnology has lead to the evolution of a branch of chemistry now commonly referred to as biocatalysis.
This webinar will describe what biocatalysis is, why it should be considered as a first line option (rather than a last resort as was previously the case) and illustrate how biocatalysis has been integrated into an overall synthetic route using real examples developed by the Piramal team.
Presented by
Bob Holt,
Biocatalysis Director
BSc in biochemistry from Bath University (1981)
PhD in metabolic control of the acetone/butanol fermentation from University of Wales (1984)
Post-doctoral research in biocatalysis at University of Wales (1984-88).
Senior biocatalysis research scientist, ICI (1988-1993)
Biocatalysis R&D Manager, Zeneca Lifescience Molecules (1993-1999)
Biocatalysis Director, Avecia Pharmaceuticals (1999-2005)
Biocatalysis Director, Piramal Healthcare (2005-present)
