Bacillus subtilis lipase a—lipase or esterase?

The question of how to distinguish between lipases and esterases is about as old as the definition of the subclassification is. Many different criteria have been proposed to this end, all indicative but not decisive. Here, the activity of lipases in dry organic solvents as a criterion is probed on a minimal α/β hydrolase fold enzyme, the...

Membrane reactors for biodiesel production with strontium oxide as a heterogeneous catalyst

A membrane reactor containing an immobilized heterogeneous catalyst is an alternative for traditional homogeneous-based catalyzed transesterification for biodiesel production. Major problems in homogeneous catalysis are related to catalyst recuperation and soap formation, which can be overcome by using heterogeneous catalysts. Conversion can...

Bienzymatic cascade for the synthesis of an optically active O-benzoyl cyanohydrin

A concurrent bienzymatic cascade for the synthesis of optically pure (S)-4-methoxymandelonitrile benzoate ((S)-3) starting from 4-anisaldehyde (1) has been developed. The cascade involves an enantioselective Manihot esculenta hydroxynitrile lyase-catalyzed hydrocyanation of 1, and the subsequent benzoylation of the resulting cyanohydrin (S)-2...

Multi-catalytic route for the synthesis of (S)-tembamide

Enantiopure β-amino alcohols constitute one of the most significant building blocks for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Despite the availability of a range of chiral β-amino alcohols from a chiral pool, there is a growing demand for new enantioselective synthetic routes to vicinal amino alcohols and their derivatives. In...