The outlook of organic synthesis has changed many times during its tractable history. The initial focus on the synthesis of substances typical of living matter, exemplified by the first examples of organic chemistry through the synthesis of urea from inorganic substances by Liebig, was accepted as the birth of organic chemistry, and thus also of organic synthesis. Although the early developments in organic synthesis closely followed the pursuit of molecules typical in nature, towards the end of the 19th century, societal pressures placed higher demands on chemical methods appropriate for the emerging age of industrialization. This led to vast amounts of information being generated through the discovery of synthetic reactions, spectroscopic techniques and reaction mechanisms. The basic organic functional group transformations were discovered and improved during the early part of this century. Reaction mechanisms were elucidated at a growing pace, and extremely powerful spectroscopic tools, such as infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry were introduced as everyday tools for a practising organic chemist. By the 1950s, many practitioners were ready to agree that almost every molecule could be syn thesized. Some difficult stereochemical problems were exceptions; for example Woodward concluded that erythromycin was a "hopelessly complex target". This frustration led to a hectic phase of development of new and increasingly more ingenious protecting group strategies and functional group transformations, and also saw the emergence of asymmetric synthesis.

The outlook of organic synthesis has changed many times during its tractable history. The initial focus on the synthesis of substances typical of living matter, exemplified by the first examples of organic chemistry through the synthesis of urea from inorganic substances by Liebig, was accepted as the birth of organic chemistry, and thus also of organic synthesis. Although the early developments in organic synthesis closely followed the pursuit of molecules typical in nature, towards the end of the 19th century, societal pressures placed higher demands on chemical methods appropriate for the emerging age of industrialization. This led to vast amounts of information being generated through the discovery of synthetic reactions, spectroscopic techniques and reaction mechanisms. The basic organic functional group transformations were discovered and improved during the early part of this century. Reaction mechanisms were elucidated at a growing pace, and extremely powerful spectroscopic tools, such as infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry were introduced as everyday tools for a practising organic chemist. By the 1950s, many practitioners were ready to agree that almost every molecule could be syn thesized. Some difficult stereochemical problems were exceptions; for example Woodward concluded that erythromycin was a "hopelessly complex target". This frustration led to a hectic phase of development of new and increasingly more ingenious protecting group strategies and functional group transformations, and also saw the emergence of asymmetric synthesis.

Extending the range of enzymatic catalysis by using non-aqueous media has now developed into a powerful approach in biochemistry and biotechnology. One peculiar feature which distinguishes it from the conventional enzymology (carried out in aqueous buffers) is that the awareness of different parameters that control and influence the behaviour of enzymes in such environments has emerged rather slowly. Science is about being able to repeat what somebody else has done. Absence of knowledge about such well-defined parameters/fac tors has sometimes made some workers rather cautious and diffident about using this approach in their laboratories. But for this, non-aqueous enzymol ogy would be more widely practised. It is these thoughts that made me feel that the availability of some well-defined protocols for various applications invol ving enzymes in non-aqueous environments would further catalyze the growth of this area. Hence this book, in which each chapter has some protocols in a specific area. The protocols are preceded by brief background material. The early chapters, which are of general importance, concern control of water ac tivity and stabilization via immobilization. Some subsequent chapters provide the protocols for transformations involving lipids and carbohydrates, peptide synthesis, and preparation of chiral compounds. The disproportionate focus on lipases is not a coincidence; this class of enzymes has been used more often than others in non-aqueous enzymology.

Perfect for biochemists, synthetic and organic chemists, this book covers all important reactions, including C-C coupling reactions, oxidation reactions and many more. Divided into two parts, the first section on methodology presents new innovative methods for enzymatic catalysis optimization, including such new trends as medium engineering, directed evolution and computer-aided prediction of enantioselectivity. The second and main section deals with applications to synthesis, showing important reaction types and their applications. Only those reactions with very high selectivity are presented, allowing readers to improve their own reaction yields.

Closing a gap in the literature, this comprehensive book examines and discusses different non-aqueous systems from organic solvents to ionic liquids for synthetic applications, thus opening the door to new successful methods for biocatalytic reactions. It gathers into one handy source the information otherwise widely spread throughout the literature, combining useful background information with a number of synthetic examples, including industrial scale processes for pharmaceutical and fine chemicals. Extremely well structured, the text introduces the fundamentals of non-aqueous enzymology, before going on to new reaction media and synthetic applications using hydrolases and non-hydrolytic enzymes. The one-stop reference for everyone working in this hot field.

Perfect for biochemists, synthetic and organic chemists, this book covers all important reactions, including C-C coupling reactions, oxidation reactions and many more. Divided into two parts, the first section on methodology presents new innovative methods for enzymatic catalysis optimization, including such new trends as medium engineering, directed evolution and computer-aided prediction of enantioselectivity. The second and main section deals with applications to synthesis, showing important reaction types and their applications. Only those reactions with very high selectivity are presented, allowing readers to improve their own reaction yields.