Photochemically assisted biocatalysis: a platform for the continuous synthesis of fine chemicals

Currently, the chemical synthesis of complex fine chemicals, especially those with chiral centers, is challenging and time-consuming. There is a high demand within the chemical industry to develop cost-efficient and environmentally friendly production methods. This should strengthen the competitiveness of German and European industry so that it can compete in the global market.

The main objective of ILLUMINATE was to develop a modular synthesis platform for the production of chiral fine chemicals, which offers significant advantages over conventional batch synthesis thanks to a cascaded reaction sequence in continuously operated flow reactors. To achieve this goal, the project aimed to develop hybrid catalysts based on visible light that could be integrated into a continuous flow system to enable the synthesis of fine chemicals.

Fraunhofer IME was responsible for the selection, development, and production of biocatalysts, in particular hydroxynitrile lyases (HNL) for the synthesis of chiral cyanide alcohols, as well as alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) and unspecific peroxygenases (uPOX) for the stereoselective conversion of ethylbenzene.

The expression platform established at Fraunhofer IME was to be used to investigate and optimize the activity of selected enzymes. At the same time, strategies for immobilizing the optimized enzymes on particulate or nanostructured carriers were developed in collaboration with the project partners to enable their use in continuous flow reactors. Compared to traditional synthesis methods, this example was intended to provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative process for the chemical industry, especially for manufacturers of pharmaceutical and agrochemical products.