Protein-Metal Hybrids as Catalysts for Selective Oxidations

Protein-Metal Hybrids as Catalysts for Selective Oxidations

Kanbak-Aksu, S.

Sheldon, R.A. (promotor)
Arends, I.W.C.E. (promotor)

Applied Sciences

Biotechnology

2010-06-09

Selective oxidation reactions are important transformations for the production of fine chemicals. However, there is a need to replace current oxidation methods by more sustainable alternatives. In this respect the use of biocatalysts offers a large benefit, because they operate under mild conditions, and their use is accompanied by high chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities in reactions of multifunctional molecules. In nature, oxidation reactions are catalyzed by so-called redox enzymes which form the class of oxidoreductases (EC 1). Despite the potential value of oxidoreductases for industrial oxidation reactions, they do not find wide application in fine chemicals industry. The reasons thereof are diverse but the crucial problems are commercial availability, operational stability, scope and, in some cases, lack of an effective method for co-factor regeneration where necessary. In order to facilitate the large scale application of enzymes as catalysts, these drawbacks need to be overcome. One approach is to design new (semi)synthetic biocatalysts with improved stability and comparable or better selectivity and activity to natural enzymes. The focus of this thesis is on the design of oxidative enzymes that can be readily applied in fine chemical synthesis. A number of approaches were investigated that combine the advantages of biocatalysis, with the activity and versatility of chemo-catalysts. This brought us to the approach of designing protein-metal hybrids that can act as either oxidases or peroxidases.

oxidation
enzyme catalysis
protein-metal hybrid

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8c6ff332-6075-426b-920a-1a0bfb73f5b0

Gildeprint

2010-06-09

9789461080554

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2010 Kanbak-Aksu, S.