Chemoenzymatic Hydrogen Production from Methanol through the Interplay of Metal Complexes and Biocatalysts

Cascade catalysis through bifunctional lipase metal biohybrids for the synthesis of enantioenriched O‐heterocycles from allenes

Lipase/metal nanobiohybrids, generated by growth of silver or gold nanoparticles on protein matrixes are used as highly effective dual‐activity heterogeneous catalysts for the production of enantiomerically enriched 2,5‐dihydrofurans from allenic acetates in a one‐pot cascade process combining a lipase‐mediated hydrolytic kinetic resolution with a metal‐catalyzed allene cycloisomerization. Incorporating a novel strategy based on enzyme‐polymer bioconjugates in the nanobiohybrid preparation enables excellent conversions in the process. Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) in combination with a dextran‐based polymer modifier (DexAsp) proved to be most efficient when merged with silver nanoparticles. A range of hybrid materials were produced, combining Ag or Au metals with Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) or CALB and its DexAsp or polyethyleneimine polymer bioconjugates. The wider applicability of the biohybrids is demonstrated by their use in allenic alcohol cyclizations, where a variety of dihydrofurans are obtained using a CALB/gold nanomaterial. These results underline the potential of the nanobiohybrid catalysis as promising approach to intricate one‐pot synthetic strategies.

Low-Temperature Methanol-Water Reforming Over Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Immobilized Ruthenium Complex

Hydrogen is one of the most promising sustainable energy carriers for its high gravimetric energy density and abundance. Nowadays, hydrogen production and storage are the main constraints for its commercialization. As a current research focus, hydrogen production from methanol-water reforming, especially at low temperature, is particularly important. In this study, a novel reaction path for low-temperature methanol reforming through synergistic catalysis was developed. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and coenzyme I (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD⁺ ) were employed for methanol catalytic dehydrogenation at low temperature, which could generate formaldehyde and reductive coenzyme I (NADH). Covalent triazine framework-immobilized ruthenium complex (Ru-CTF) was prepared afterwards. On one hand, the catalyst exhibited high activity for the formaldehyde-water shift reaction to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide. On the other hand, the NADH dehydrogenation was also catalyzed by the Ru-CTF, producing NAD⁺ and hydrogen. Additionally, the catalyst also showed high biocompatibility with ADH. Through the synergistic effect of the above two main processes, methanol could be converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide stably at low temperature for more than 96 h. The hydrogen production rate was dependent on the pH of the reaction solution as well as the ADH dosage. A hydrogen production rate of 157 mmol h^-1  mol^-1 _Ru was achieved at the optimum pH (8.1). Additionally, the hydrogen production rate increased linearly with the ADH dosage, reaching 578 mmol h^-1  mol^-1 _Ru when the ADH dosage was 180 U at 35 °C. This research could not only help overcome the difficulties for methanol reforming near room temperature but also give new inspiration for designing new reaction pathways for methanol reforming.

Preparation and application of solvent-free liquid proteins with enhanced thermal and anhydrous stabilities

This perspective details a robust chemical modification strategy to protect proteins from temperature, aggregation, and non-aqueous environments.