Wiley-Blackwell Practical Biotransformations: A Beginner's Guide (Postgraduate Chemistry)

The development of new asymmetric catalytic methods is of fundamental importance to industrial synthetic chemistry. The demand for optically pure synthetic intermediates and the drive to adopt greener methods of synthesis have stimulated a growing interest in biocatalysis as a selective and environmentally benign synthetic technique. Practical Biotransformations: A Beginner's Guide provides an introduction to microbes and enzymes and demonstrates their practical applications in synthetic organic chemistry. Designed as a laboratory manual, this user-friendly guide discusses standard laboratory techniques, with appropriate advice on aspects of microbial practice and associated safety.Topics covered include: An introduction to equipment in a biotransformations laboratory An overview of biocatalyst sources Maintenance and growth of biocatalysts Example biotransformations using commercially available microbes and enzymes Basic gene cloning and the use of ‘designer’ biocatalysts This book will be a valuable resource for synthetic organic chemists with little or no experience of biochemistry or microbiology. It is the author’s hope that this text will inspire readers to consider biocatalytic methods as real alternatives to traditional synthetic solutions. Review ?The book provides a good overview and appropriately conceived outline of this complex topic, enabling the interested reader to begin work with enzymes quickly and without unnecessary complications.? (Angewandte Chemie, October 2009) ?Gogan presents a beginner's guide to microbes and enzymes and how to use them for synthetic organic reactions in the laboratory.? ( Book News, September 2009)?Gogan presents a beginner's guide to microbes and enzymes and how to use them for synthetic organic reactions in the laboratory.? ( Book News, September 2009)?This book is easy to read and well organized and can be dipped in and out of, depending on your level of experience in different areas. ? Overall and excellent, interesting and user-friendly manual/textbook.? (Chemistry World, August 2009) From the Inside Flap Biotransformations are reactions catalysed by either enzymes or microbes which are of potential use to preparative synthetic chemistry. Biotransformation science can include microbiological and biochemical techniques with which the organic chemist is unfamiliar, yet this should not be a barrier to the uptake of these processes, the use of which can result in significant research and economic benefits. The book is aimed at organic chemistry postgraduates and researchers in both academia and industry who are aware of the existence of biotransformation methodology, and of its potential value, but do not know how to begin to implement the relevant experimental techniques in the laboratory. It is written in an accessible and user-friendly way that should facilitate the introduction of biocatalysis in to some new labs. From the Back Cover Biotransformations are reactions catalysed by either enzymes or microbes which are of potential use to preparative synthetic chemistry. Biotransformation science can include microbiological and biochemical techniques with which the organic chemist is unfamiliar, yet this should not be a barrier to the uptake of these processes, the use of which can result in significant research and economic benefits. The book is aimed at organic chemistry postgraduates and researchers in both academia and industry who are aware of the existence of biotransformation methodology, and of its potential value, but do not know how to begin to implement the relevant experimental techniques in the laboratory. It is written in an accessible and user-friendly way that should facilitate the introduction of biocatalysis in to some new labs. About the Author Gideon Grogan is a lecturer at the University of York, Department of Chemistry. He is also Science Manager of the Bioscience for Business Knowledge Tran