Abstract
Biocatalysis has already undergone considerable development, thanks in particular to recombinant DNA techniques and, more recently, enzyme engineering (targeted and random mutagenesis, directed evolution, etc.). What is discussed in this lecture is the possibility of inventing a new synthesis strategy which combines biocatalytic steps with chemocatalytic steps, in the same synthesis process, not only in vitro but also in vivo. This obviously poses a huge problem of reaction compatibility (e.g. solvent compatibility, with the need to develop catalytic chemical reactions in water and not in organic solvents; also catalyst compatibility to avoid inhibition of the enzyme by the chemical catalyst). This strategy is discussed on the basis of various recent examples. These include the combination of a pallado-catalyzed reaction with an enzymatic reaction for the synthesis of rhododrendol used in cosmetics, or a ruthenium complex-catalyzed metathesis reaction with a cytochrome P450-catalyzed epoxidation reaction.
