A new chemoenzymatic protocol for the preparation of 6-aminoisomannide was developed starting from renewable sources. The key step of the protocol was a biocatalysed highly regioselective acetylation of the 3-endo hydroxyl group of isosorbide, performed employing Immobilized Amano Lipase PS onto octadecyl methacrylate resin. The catalyst gave good results even on a large scale (10mmol) and it could be recycled 3 times without loss of selectivity.
Congratulations to our PhD students Michele Nottoli and Mattia Bondanza for their publication entitled: An enhanced sampling QM/AMOEBA approach: The case of the excited state intramolecular proton transfer in solvated 3-hydroxyflavone. In this work, we present an extension of the polarizable quantum mechanical (QM)/AMOEBA approach to enhanced sampling techniques.
Congratulations to our Ph.D. Nicola Di Fidio for his scientific publication "Electro-oxidative depolymerisation of technical lignin in water using platinum, nickel oxide hydroxide and graphite electrodes" on the RSC "New Journal of Chemistry". In order to improve the lignin exploitation to added-value bioproducts, a mild chemical conversion route based on electrochemistry was implemented.
Carbohydrates represent a promising option in transitioning from oil-based chemical resources to renewable ones, with the goal of developing chemistries for a sustainable future. Cellulose, hemicellulose, and largely available monosaccharides already provide useful chemical building blocks, so-called platform chemicals, such as levulinic acid and hydroxymethyl furfural, as well as solvents like cyrene or gamma-valerolactone.
