A common question asked by process chemists is “Do I use a biocatalyst or one based on a transition metal?”. The choice can be an important part of route scouting (1). Unlike many articles that leave the reader waiting to the end, here is the answer: “It depends”.The advantages of using a catalyst rather than a stoichiometric reagent can be summed up by the concepts of ‘green’ chemistry (2), but the simple way to look at the catalytic approach is that less of a catalyst is used compared to a stoichiometric reagent, so the cost of the material and its removal is reduced.In the past, processes were designed by chemists who had little familiarity with biotransformations and enzymes. Thus, the use of an enzyme was a means of last resort (3). Now, many companies have process groups which include members who are familiar with enzymes and biotransformations. Indeed, to those who are familiar with biological systems, they seem to be the solution to most problems!
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