9 Biotransformations

Abstract

This report reviews significant developments in applications of biological catalysis in synthetic organic chemistry for the years 2003 and 2004. In addition to new biocatalytic reactions and innovative applications of established processes, the review focuses on significant observed developments in biocatalysis, notably: the widespread use of rational and random mutagenesis approaches to biocatalyst improvement; the development of high throughput selections and screens for gene products resulting from evolutionary methods; advances in process engineering to facilitate the scale-up of challenging oxidoreductase-catalysed processes using new methods of cofactor recycling and novel solvent mixtures.