IBAAC: An integrated biomimetic approach to asymmetric catalysis

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0255-2

Key words (English)

Artificial metalloenzyme; catalysis; high through-put screening

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 505020

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 2.2.1 Marie-Curie Research Training Networks

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

The project 'An Integrated Biomimetic Approach to Asymmetric Catalysis' (IBAAC) outlines complementary strategies to incorporate active catalyst precursors into a chiral host environment and efficiently test with high-throughput screening methodologies the resulting hybrid catalytic systems in asymmetric catalysis.
Enantioselective catalysis is one of the most versatile tools to produce enantiomerically pure compounds to satisfy the needs of our society. In recent years, combinatorial approaches have successfully been applied to the discovery and to the development of new enantioselective catalysts. These studies highlight the fact that many subtle experimental parameters (solvent, counter ion, salts etc.) have an unpredictable influence on the enantioselectivity. These weak contacts between a catalyst and its 'non-bonded' environment are referred to as second coordination sphere.
As host for asymmetric catalysis, various macromolecules will be evaluated: proteins, antibodies, dendrimers, and polymers.
Organometallic coenzymes will be incorporated into the host. In order to ensure proper localization of the coenzyme within the host, covalent as well as non-covalent (H-bonds, p-stacking, hydrophobic interactions, dative bonds) anchoring will be evaluated. A chemo-genetic approach will be used to optimize both the activity and the selectivity of the catalysts. Chemical modification of the coenzyme and genetic modification of the host protein offer orthogonal optimization procedures, which allow to produce large libraries of hybrid catalysts.
The ambitious project delineated herein requires expertise in diverse areas including biology, chemistry, statistical analysis and engineering. The network consist of a balanced mix of well established- and younger colleagues originating from diverse horizons. One of the goals of this trans-national network is to keep the concept and the potential applications of such biomimetic asymmetric catalysts within Europe.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0255-2