Across the Board: Pablo Dominguez de Maria on the Biocatalytic Synthesis of Esters and Amides in Aqueous Media

In this series of articles, the board members ofChemSusChemdiscuss recent research articles that they consider of exceptional quality and importance for sustainability. This entry features Dr. P. Dominguez de Maria, who introduces the biocatalytic synthesis of esters and amides in aqueous media by means of some acyltransferases that seem to proceed against Le Chatelier's principle. Continuous processes with immobilized forms of these enzymes enable the efficient production of aroma esters and important amides (e. g., melatonin) in aqueous solutions and using natural substrates with limited environmental impact.