Recent progress in biocatalysis using supercritical carbon dioxide

The latest advances in biocatalysis using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) are reviewed. Stability and stabilization methodologies of enzymes in scCO(2) as well as reactions for organic synthesis are described. Especially, varieties of examples for lipase-catalyzed synthesis of chiral compounds using scCO(2) are given. Furthermore, asymmetric reduction by alcohol dehydrogenase in scCO(2) and carboxylation by decarboxylase in scCO(2) are also introduced. (C) 2012, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.