Bioinspired organic chemistry

Abstract

Drawing a line between chemistry and biology is becoming increasingly difficult as more chemists gain their inspiration from biological systems. Improvements in understanding the molecular basis of biological systems have increased the scope for chemists to create biomimetic systems. These systems can further expand our understanding of natural processes or be employed in a novel way for non-biological purposes. Highlights in this review include new work on molecular motors, the development of the complete set of expanded DNA bases, new switchable membrane pores, and what may be the simplest possible DNA backbone repeat unit. This article also describes many other exciting discoveries published during 2005 that aimed to copy the form and/or function of biomolecules.