In conventional nonaqueous media (e.g., organic solvents and supercritical fluids), enzyme activity is highly depressed when compared with their performance in aqueous environment. To mimic the structure of water, we designed imidazolium and ammonium-type of ionic liquids that carry tert-alcohol (as hydrogen-bond donor, but much less reactive as the substrate) and multiple ether groups (as hydrogen-bond acceptors). These functionalized ionic liquids enabled considerably higher lipase and protease activity and stability than organic solvents (such as tert-butanol and diisopropyl ether) and conventional ionic liquids (e.g., [BMIM][Tf2N]) during transesterification reactions at low water contents. In addition, these ionic solvents exhibit high thermal stability and low viscosities, which make them ideal media for nonaqueous biocatalytic applications.

“Water-like” Ionic liquids for enzyme activation

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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