Nature Inspires A Cascade Of Chemical Catalysis

摘要

Nature uses enzymes to catalyze the myriad of chemical reactions in living things. On the other hand, the chemical industry relies mainly on metal-based catalysts to make reactions go at profitable rates. Research chemists, who up to now have generally used similar metal-based catalysts, have now discovered organocatalysts which are more like those of Nature, and which are proving to be just as interesting as the enzyme and the metal-based ones. Their proponents praise them as being non-toxic, highly efficient, and delivering specific products in terms of their stereo selectivity.