Design of enzyme-metal hybrid catalysts for organic synthesis

Abstract

Summary: Enzyme-metal hybrid catalysts (EMHCs), combining the merits of both enzyme and metal catalysts with high selectivity, efficiency, and broad substrate spectrum, are potentially ideal catalysts for organic synthesis. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the design and application of EMHCs in driving reactions that cannot be easily catalyzed by native enzymes or metals. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of EMHCs in organic synthesis. Examples of enzymatic reactions, selective chemical transformations, and chemoenzymatic cascade reactions catalyzed by biohybrid catalysts are provided, and the structure-function relationships of EMHCs are discussed. Finally, perspectives and limitations in this field are highlighted, and research directions on this exciting theme are proposed.

Keywords

• organic synthesis
• chemoenzymatic catalysis
• hybrid catalyst
• enzyme-metal hybrid catalyst