The Future of Organic Synthesis is in Water: From Chemo to Bio-catalysis

ACS Webinars

We are long overdue in converting the practice of organic chemistry to a sustainable discipline. It is time to think about the state in which we are going to leave the planet, as present day synthesis produces unimaginable levels of organic waste, most being organic solvents. We are also consuming at an alarming rate our limited natural resources, especially endangered metals such as the platinoids, that function as crucial catalysts.

Just as bio-catalysis, throughout time or via directed evolution, is done in water, doing synthetic chemistry in water just makes sense. It is not only typically faster, better, and cheaper, it tends to be even more selective. Join Distinguished Professor Bruce Lipshutz of UC Santa Barbara during this free interactive broadcast as he demonstrates how for chemical, economic, and environmental reasons, chemistry in water is our only path to sustainability.

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What You Will Learn

  • Some of Nature’s “new rules” for doing organic synthesis, but in water
  • How to think about sequencing reactions using the same aqueous conditions, thereby minimizing time, expense, and waste creation
  • How to utilize combinations of chemo- and bio-catalysis, both in water, for synthetic gain

Co-Producer

Meet the Experts

Bruce H. Lipshutz
UC Santa Barbara

Joe Fortunak
Howard University

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