title: Biocatalytic transformations in ionic liquids.
abstract: Room temperature ionic liquids are non-volatile, thermally stable and highly polar; they are also moderately hydrophilic solvents. Here, we discuss their use as reaction media for biocatalysis. Enzymes of widely diverging types are catalytically active in ionic liquids or aqueous biphasic ionic liquid systems. Lipases, in particular, maintain their activity in anhydrous ionic liquid media; the (enantio)selectivity and operational stability are often better than in traditional media. The unconventional solvent properties of ionic liquids have been exploited in biocatalyst recycling and product recovery schemes that are not feasible with traditional solvent systems.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Organic Chemistry, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Rantwijk
authors.forename: Rute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madeira Lau
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sheldon
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008049:Lipase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D007477:Ions; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D008049:Lipase