Taking inspiration from enzymes, chemists have developed a catalyst to simplify the synthesis of ethers, key functional components of many drugs, foods, personal care items and other consumer goods.

image: An one-pot chemoenzymatic cascade reaction to synthesize chiral alcohol was realized by using the highly active and selective enzyme-metal-single-atom hybrid as the catalyst. The ...

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. They are essential for life, as they play a crucial role in various biological processes, such as digestion, ...

Not content with editing the genes of living organisms or creating ever-smarter AI, scientists may eventually be able to biologically engineer unique artificial lifeforms from scratch. A new study ...

Frances Arnold's game-changing technique of "directed evolution" creates enzymes with unusual capabilities. Her own evolution made it possible.

The controversial process of enhanced enzyme diffusion could enable living systems to resist local equilibrium ...

Oxidizing the end carbon atom of a terminal alkene to form an aldehyde, a process called anti-Markovnikov alkene oxidation, is difficult because the reaction is energetically unfavorable. The ...

From animals and entire ecosystems, to building materials and beer recipes, scientists have long drawn on the past for inspiration for new breakthroughs. Now, researchers at the University of ...

A new study published in the journal Nature Catalysis on February 10, 2020, reports the creation of a new artificial enzyme from two components, both non-biological in origin. This event marks the ...

A new enzyme-inspired, small-molecule catalyst developed at the University of Illinois holds alcohols and alkenes in just the right proximity and position to join into ethers, key functional ...