It is focused mainly at synthetic organic chemists with limited experience using enzymes and provides a general and practical guide to enzymes and their synthetic potential, with particular focus on recent applications. Using the catalytic power of enzymes to perform highly stereoselective organic transformations has been the basis of the ever-expanding field of biocatalysis. Enzymes have evolved over millions of years to be some of the best catalysts available to chemists. Now, through advances in molecular and synthetic biology, chemists are able to redesign the active sights of many enzymes to fit their synthetic needs. Biocatalysis has been around for a long time. In fact, it was probably the first type of multi-step chemical reaction humans ever carried out, over 9000 years ago. But seeing as the product of that particular reaction was beer, that’s hardly surprising. Lab coat or mammoth hide, scientists never change. Natural enzymes tended to be unstable in industrial conditions, they would frequently give low yields and there just weren’t many of them kicking about. With other enzymes becoming more and more familiar with industry professionals, the money is beginning to trickle down to investment. And it’s never been a better time to take a stake in the biocatalysis business. From Whole Cells to Isolated Enzymes.