title: Peptide catalysis in aqueous emulsions.
abstract: Amphiphilic tripeptides catalyze conjugate addition reactions of aldehydes to nitroolefins in water with high yields and stereoselectivities. The amphiphilic nature shields the peptidic catalyst from the water and stabilizes the emulsion formed by the reactants in the aqueous environment. The findings have intriguing implications for the chemical evolution of enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. Wennemers@org.chem.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duschmalé
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohrt
authors.forename: Helma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wennemers
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004655:Emulsions; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013343:Styrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D004655:Emulsions; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013343:Styrenes; D014867:Water; C011955:beta-nitrostyrene; C018475:butyraldehyde