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Peroxygenases can selectively functionalize organic compounds, but are sensitive to the co-substrate H2O2. Hollmann and co-workers show that water oxidation catalysts can provide a controlled supply of H2O2 to the enzyme in the presence of visible light, allowing efficient oxyfunctionalization without stoichiometric reductants.
During photosynthesis, nature uses an enzyme with a manganese–calcium core for water oxidation. Here, the authors report the synthesis of a stable, water-soluble manganese cluster that acts as a homogeneous water oxidation electrocatalyst, displaying low overpotential and high Faradaic efficiency.
Bioethanol-based alkylation of benzene is a potentially sustainable route to commodity chemicals, but there is little knowledge of the reaction mechanism. Here, Weckhuysen and co-workers study the zeolite catalysed alkylation of benzene with ethanol, identifying the active alkylating agent and experimentally show the presence of a σ-complex intermediate.
Biocatalysis, if selective, offers great potential for the well-controlled release of drugs and other payloads. Here, Minko and co-workers separate enzymes and substrates by loading them onto individual, polymer-coated nanoparticles, and show that a magnetic field switches on the catalytic activity by merging the polymer shells.
