The selective addition of water to C=C bonds; enzymes are the best chemists

Water is the liquid of life. Nature has therefore evolved countless enzymes that catalyse the addition of water to C=C bonds, isolated or conjugated. These reactions are regio- and enantioselective, they are part of primary metabolism as well as the secondary metabolism. The enzymes that catalyse these reactions (hydratases or hydro-lyases) are applied industrially in selected cases. However, they are not generally used in the laboratory although they outperform all currently available catalytic chemical methodologies. This feature article highlights the potential that hydratases have for chemistry compared to the acid catalysed addition of water.