Lipase active site covalent anchoring of Rh(NHC) catalysts: towards chemoselective artificial metalloenzymes†
Abstract
A Rh(NHC) phosphonate complex reacts with the lipases cutinase and Candida antarctica lipase B resulting in the first (soluble) artificial metalloenzymes formed by covalent active site-directed hybridization. When compared to unsupported complexes, these new robust hybrids show enhanced chemoselectivity in the (competitive) hydrogenation of olefins over ketones.