Editorial [ Recent Advances in Selective Biocatalysis Guest Editor: Enzo Santaniello ]

Biocatalysis represents today a well established field of research at a crossroad between organic synthesis and biotechnology, dealing with the application of biological systems such as microorganisms, enzymes or catalytic antibodies to the synthesis of organic compounds. The main advantage of biocatalysis is related to the the fact that systems, generally defined as biocatalysts, can be used in aqueous solutions under mild experimental conditions of temperature and pH, typical of biological system. This may constitute a limitation for organic molecules, that generally are not very soluble in an aqueous medium. On the other hand, the activity of many enzymes is compatible with the addition of organic cosolvents and others, such as lipases, can also work also in anhydrous organic solvents. Additionally, well developed immobilization techniques may protect the biocatalyst from denaturating properties of organic solvents and cosolvents. In general, most biocatalysts can be satisfactorily used to realize chemo-, regio- or stereoselective transformations. This issue of Current Organic Chemistry, entitled RECENT ADVANCES IN SELECTIVE BIOCATALYSIS is intended to highlight the most recent applications of biocatalysis for selective processes in organic synthesis with special regard to protection of polyfunctional compounds or preparation of compounds required for the synthesis of stereochemically pure compounds, in turn endowed with biological activity. Several reviews and books have been devoted to this topic, that now steadily occupies a well established place in the scientific literature. This issue is dedicated to Professors J. Bryan Jones and Charles J. Sih who have been pioneers in the field and, thitrty years ago, edited with J. Rosazza of a book entitled “Applications of biochemical systems in organic chemistry”. In these two volumes, any organic chemist could find the most important notions about what was, at the time, the emerging field of biocatalysis. In line with the inspiration of this yet valuable book, two issues of Current Organic Chemistry will be dedicated to the topic of stereoselective biocatalysis, covering applications of a wide range of synthetically useful reactions catalyzed by purified enzymes or microorganisms. In Part I, aspects of selectivity in biocatalysis will be discussed, with a special attention to lipase-catalyzed transformations. The complexity of Candida rugosa lipase as biocatalyst has been critically examined (J. V. Sinisterra) and application of lipases to stereoselective transesterification (R. Chénevert), alcoholysis (E. Santaniello), and aminolysis (V. Gotor) reactions have been reviewed. Diversity of epoxide hydrolases has been discussed (M. S. Smit) and application of glycososyl hydrolases or related transferases (A. Trincone) have also been illustrated.