Eliminating external catalysts for the sustainable synthesis of biomolecules and pharmaceuticals

In the future, it may be possible to produce bioactive molecules and pharmaceuticals without reverting to using enzymes or metals as external catalysts. Chemists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have developed a procedure during which an in situ-formed organoautocatalyst allows for extremely effective chemical synthesis of bioactive cyclical amine compounds under mild conditions. The findings are published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.