Gas Evolution as a Tool to Study Reaction Kinetics Under Biomimetic Conditions.

The field of bioorthogonal chemistry is rapidly growing, presenting successful applications of organic and transition metal-catalysed reactions in cells and living systems (in vivo). The development of such reactions typically proceeds through many iterative steps focused on biocompatibility and fast reaction kinetics to ensure product formation. However, obtaining kinetic data, even under simulated biological (biomimetic) conditions, remains a challenge due to substantial concentrations of salts and biomolecules hampering the use of typically employed solution-phase analytical techniques.

Copper-Catalyzed Sulfimidation in Aqueous Media: a Fast, Chemoselective and Biomolecule-Compatible Reaction.

Performing transition metal-catalyzed reactions in cells and living systems has equipped scientists with a toolbox to study biological processes and release drugs on demand. Thus far, an impressive scope of reactions has been performed in these settings, but many are yet to be introduced. Nitrene transfer presents a rather unexplored new-to-nature reaction.

A Co(TAML)-based artificial metalloenzyme for asymmetric radical-type oxygen atom transfer catalysis.

We show that the incorporation of a biotinylated Co(TAML) cofactor within streptavidin enables asymmetric radical-type oxygen atom transfer catalysis with improved activity and enantioselectivity.