Biocatalytic reductive amination from discovery to commercial manufacturing applied to abrocitinib JAK1 inhibitor

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 21 September 2021; doi:10.1038/s41929-021-00671-5Reductive aminases show strong potential for the sustainable synthesis of chiral amines, but their application in industrial scale processes is lacking. Now, such an enzyme is screened and engineered allowing its use in commercial manufacturing of abrocitinib JAK1 inhibitor...

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An enzyme to cure age-related diseases

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 21 September 2021; doi:10.1038/s41929-021-00677-zMore than 35 years ago, telomerase activity was discovered by Elizabeth H. Blackburn and Carol W. Greider. Today, this enzyme is a promising approach to curing some age-related diseases as well as cancer, but it took time for telomerase to be in the spotlight.

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Ammonia history in the making

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 21 September 2021; doi:10.1038/s41929-021-00676-0The Haber–Bosch process was introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century; however, its mechanism remained controversial for many years. Thus, a comprehensive mechanistic picture was provided in the eighties.

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A titanic breakthrough

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 21 September 2021; doi:10.1038/s41929-021-00678-yHarnessing a clean, affordable and inexhaustible source of energy is an immense scientific challenge. Scientists moved a step closer in 1972 when the first practical device for direct solar power-to-fuel conversion was reported.

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Copper, my precious!

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 21 September 2021; doi:10.1038/s41929-021-00674-2To produce chemicals and fuels from CO2 and water while storing excess energy from renewable resources will play a big role in sustainability. Three decades ago, we learned that copper possesses the unique ability to break the stable CO2 bonds and to form C–C bonds,...

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The dawn of cross-coupling

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 21 September 2021; doi:10.1038/s41929-021-00675-1Methods for the direct one-step replacement of a hydrogen atom in a C–H bond by an organic functional group can create enormous possibilities for synthetic applications. On the way to solve this challenge, the discovery of the reaction of organopalladium complexes with...

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Retro Hits

Nature Catalysis, Published online: 21 September 2021; doi:10.1038/s41929-021-00681-3The old catalysis literature still has much to offer to the research community. This issue presents a selection of retro News & Views articles that highlight some key historical developments in the subareas of catalysis.

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A titanic breakthrough

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Ammonia history in the making

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The dawn of cross-coupling

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