Preparative biotransformations

This review of the 1997 literature features enzyme-catalysed reactions that are of real and potential importance to synthetic organic chemistry. Biotransformations involving some well-known hydrolases are discussed as well as less-popular catalysts that are being increasingly used in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates. The use of oxidoreductases, mono-oxygenases, dioxygenases and carbon-carbon bond-forming enzymes in preparative chemistry is summarized. The increased interest in the employment of polypeptides and catalytic antibodies in synthesis is described.