Conventional syntheses of industrially important reagents such as dimethyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate and carbodihydrazide are challenged by factors such as low efficiency due to side reactions, mandatory use of toxic starting materials, high energy input, and inconvenient reaction conditions [1]. In view of the strategic importance of such compounds, alternative production methods boasting higher productivity and lower cost remain a subject of much interest. In theory, urease could prompt formation of the desired products by enforcing reaction between the inexpensive urea, and a non-water nucleophile such as methanol, ethylene glycol or hydrazine.Crosslinked enzyme micro- and nano-aggregates have been shown to sustain activity and stability in organic solvents and temperatures nearing 100�C. Nanonization is achieved through mechanical grinding or hydrodynamic shear. This top-down nanonization approach is unique in the preparation of crosslinked enzyme nanoparticles, and has been observed to prompt increased stability and activity in aqueous and non-aqueous media [2]. Although initial attempts to aggregate and crosslink urease were met with difficulties, the product was successfully obtained as a nano-coaggregate with bovine albumin, assisted by addition of trace amounts of crosslinker in the solution state.Crosslinked enzyme micro- and nanoaggregates applied to organic reactions could afford greener and more economic syntheses of many industrially important compounds. The top-down approach is expected to enable a very practical large-scale alternative to conventional synthesis methods, offering additional ease of catalyst preparation and recovery.References 1. M. Wang, H. Wang, N. Zhao, W. Wei and Y. Sun, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 46, 2683 (2007).2. A. Taralp, US patent appl. 20110008455.

Chemical reactions facilitated by crosslinked urease aggregates

247th National Meeting (2014)

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